Run to win!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!” (CLICK HERE).
“The thrill of victory…the agony of defeat.”
You may be old enough to remember this slogan from the opening of ABC’s Wide world of sports. The words played over images of the victorious carrying of a boxer to the agony of a ski jumper spiraling off the ski jump to a hard landing below.
Sports are full of celebrations…and also defeats. We have all watched as one team celebrated to the falling of confetti and the raising of the trophy and the tears and dejection of the other team heading back to their locker room, coming up just short of the championship.
Victory is thrilling.
Defeat is agonizing.
Sports is temporary, but there is a bigger victory or defeat to be had.
Will we “win” the eternal victor’s crown or lose it?
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
If you are not playing to win, why are you playing?
Athletes at all levels play to win. Whether middle school volleyball or professional football, athletes train and play to win. In essence Paul is saying, “If you are not playing to win, why are you playing?” Yet he also calls our attention to the amount of time, energy and effort that individuals put forward to win a temporary crown. In Paul’s day, the winner of an Olympic event would receive a real laurel of flowers as a championship crown. We all know flowers last about 5-7 days once cut. Yet, athletes would train, struggle and compete at their bets to win that temporary crown.
How much more the crown that will last forever.
The effort Paul is talking about is not in connection to “earning eternal life” but doing all that is necessary to stay connected to the Gospel and help others do the same. He says it this way:
1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The stakes are too high. Paul knew that the power of God was the Gospel and that every person needed the Gospel. So he practiced his faith and the sharing of the Gospel with purpose and intensity to ensure others would hear the Gospel message.
The stakes are high for us as well. Satan is working his hardest to get us to give up and desert our Savior. The challenges to our faith our real and not easy. So, we have no other choice than to engage in the competition. So we exercise our faith daily. Take input from our Coach regularly. We “eat” the food of the Word often. All to keep the Gospel at the center of our lives and the threat of Satan at bay.
Why? To receive the crown that will last.
Apply: What spiritual struggles lead you to want to give up?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for connecting my heart to yours by grace. Empower me with your Spirit to daily engage in the training and competition to fend of the attacks of Satan and stay faithful to you. Amen.
The Reward of Faithfulness!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!” (LISTEN HERE).
Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Faithfulness is easy when it’s not tested.
It’s easy to be faithful to your company when you have no other offers or incentives to leave your company for another.
It’s easy to be faithful when your marriage is going well and there are no challenges to your relationship.
It’s easy to be faithful to the Lord when life is stress and problem free.
But when challenges come, faithfulness is challenged.
Even when the challenges have little to do with our faith, we are tempted to blame God, create a story that God hates us or abandoned us and as a result, we are more willing to walk away from God, thinking he is the cause of all our problems.
When challenges ARE directly related to our faith in Jesus? How will we react then?
The Revelation that God gave to the Apostle John gives a vivid picture of days to come when the challenges to those who are Christians will increase. What will that be like?
I’m not sure. For those reading this in the United States, our faith has been relatively untested in modern times. Sure we may face challenges at work when we stand for Biblical values and world view. Those in public office may be voted out for their godly perspective on marriage and life in the womb. However, to my knowledge, facing death for our faith is not something we live with every day.
But here’s the truth that God gives to John and through him to us.
Satan is at work to challenge and test our faith. Satan would love if every believer in Christ would step away from their faith and leave their relationship with Jesus. The way he works? He seeks to bring persecution, hardship and even the threat of life itself to us in the hopes that we will think it is better and easier to step away from our faith instead of enduring the physical and emotional hardship, yet still remain faithful to the Lord.
Periodically I read a website called “Voice of the Martyrs” (https://www.persecution.com/). The stories of individuals imprisoned or threatened with their life are inspiring. These are current stories, not from the 1st century Roman persecution. Yet, the Christians persecuted around the world remain faithful to their Savior. While I pray that this type of persecution never comes to our country, I pray more that I will be able to remain faithful to the point of giving up my life instead of giving up my Savior.
For many of us, we made this promise on our confirmation day to “endure all things, even death itself, rather than give up the faith” we were professing. May God give us strength to uphold this promise all the days of our lives.
The reward?
The victor’s crown! This isn’t just a token, “Thanks for playing” reward. It is a reward of grace, earned by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and given to us as a gift of love. It is a motivation to endure all things, even death. We don’t want to lose the crown of life! It is a reminder when Satan deceives us to think that denying Christ is better than walking with Christ. There is no greater blessing or greater reward than spending forever in the joys of heaven.
Persecution, hardship is temporary. Heaven is eternal.
Be faithful!
Apply: What challenges to your faith are happening now? How does refocusing on Jesus’ promise help to endure all and stay faithful?
Prayer: Lord, keep us faithful to the point of death and in your grace give us the crown of life! AMEN.
It’s nice to be trusted!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!” (LISTEN HERE).
John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
It’s nice to be trusted.
It’s hard to trust.
When the Master trusted the three servants with a portion of his estate, it was a big deal. He relinquished a valuable portion of his assets to three individuals. He knew their abilities and perhaps you can conclude he was willing to take a bigger risk on the one who had more capability to handle his affairs.
Yet he trusted each one.
It’s nice to be trusted. Who knows how many servants the Master had, but he trusted these three. If you are in sales and someone chooses to buy from you and says, “Because I trust you.” That’s a big deal. Trust is built over time and easy to lose. Ask any husband or wife whose spouse has cheated on them. It’s hard to trust again.
Trust is lost when we are unfaithful. If you sell something that doesn’t work, the customer probably isn’t going to trust you again. If you break your marriage promise, chances are your marriage is over. If you cheat on a test, your teacher will always have a bit of skepticism on your taking of future tests.
It’s amazing when someone trusts us AGAIN after we have broken their trust.
Which is why God’s trust of us is AMAZING.
How many times have we given God the opportunity NOT to trust us?
Consider…how many times have we squandered time for selfish or sinful activity that did the opposite of what God would desire?
Consider…how many times have we acted in an unloving way to the people in our home or workplace or classroom when God has entrusted us to steward his love to all?
Consider…how many times we have placed the purchase of worldly goods above our giving to the Lord, leaving us in debt and unable to give generously?
Too many times. Enough times for God to say, “I don’t trust you.”
Yet in his mercy, he chooses to trust us again.
Peter’s record as a disciple we can relate with. At one moment a profound confession of Christ, the next a stumbling block to Jesus’ mission. At one moment, profound trust to walk on water, the next sinking with eyes focused on waves instead of Jesus. At one moment, a bold statement of willingness to die for or with Jesus, the next denying he even knows him.
Yet…
Jesus still trusts him to lead and feed his lambs and sheep.
Before returning to heaven, Jesus took time to ensure Peter knew he trusted him. Stepping aside from the other disciples, Jesus asked three times, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt as it matched his three-fold denial just a few weeks earlier. Yet, his heart was not still in denial. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
To the heart that loved the Lord, more was entrusted. “Feed my sheep.”
Our lives waver. Sin wins at times. Yet by the grace of God and the power of God’s Spirit our heart remains connected to Jesus.
And he trusts us with his gifts to do his work.
Let’s be faithful with them!
Apply: What “Peter moments” have you had which your following of Jesus is less than noble? What recognition do you have that Jesus trusts you with gifts and resources to serve him?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for trusting me with your love and grace. Lead me to faithful steward the same. AMEN.
What does faithfulness look like?
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!” (LISTEN HERE).
What does faithfulness look like?
Yesterday was a harsh, but real look at what unfaithfulness looks like and the severe consequences it receives. Any rational, let alone religious, let alone Christian would look at that conclusion to Jesus’ parable and say, “I DON’T want to be that guy!”
So what was different about the other two servants…the one who was given five talents and the one who was given two?
The Master trusted the two. Perhaps they also had shown a pattern of trustworthiness. Yet, these two servants understood their role. They understood that the talents of money that was given to them was not theirs to do with as they chose, but rather to steward as the Master desired. The fact that these servants immediately went to work, indicates that they had an understanding and relationship with the Master. They understood the desire of the Master and realized that what they were given was his and they were to steward it as he desired, not as they desired.
A faithful servant has a relationship of trust with the Master. They recognize they have been chosen by the Master to be his servants.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
A faithful servant understands and acts on the reality that what they have has been given to them to steward as the Master desired it to be used.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
A faithful servant goes to work. The servants took their five or two talents and put it to work.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The faithful servant acts on the relationship they have with their Master and understand their live’s purpose is to work for the Lord.
The return will come. Faithfulness is not about the return, but about the heart that drives the action.
A heart that firmly fears, loves, and trust in God above all things will live each day for the Lord, using the gifts, talents and abilities…life itself…for the kingdom of God.
Enjoy living for the Lord today!
Apply: What changes today when I remember that I am the Lord’s servant and here today to do his work?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me to serve you. Guide me each day to live faithfully for you! AMEN.
Worthless?
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!” (LISTEN HERE).
Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Great passage to start the day, right?
Every week we put worthless items in our trash can and put the can out on the curb to be picked up and taken to the dump. The items inside…rarely are given a second thought.
When we are done with something, or an item has lost its usefulness, it is cast out.
But to hear about a person being treated like worthless trash?
The statement gets our attention.
In our culture today, the ability to allow justice to prevail and harsh consequences to come on an individual, is almost unheard of. It is espoused as unloving. Excuses are made for the bad behavior. Justice at times assigns the most minimal consequence possible.
So to have JESUS of all people call someone in his parable “Worthless” and script the orders to “throw out” the servant seems contrary to all we would like to think of Jesus as loving and accepting of any behavior.
But that’s not true…and it’s not Jesus.
To be sure, Jesus is more than willing to show mercy and give individuals opportunity for repentance and a change of heart and mind. The Bible is full of individuals whom God forgave and gave another chance to serve him and add value to his kingdom (think of David, Saul/Paul, Peter, and more).
So what would lead to such a harsh condemnation of this servant?
The condemnation wasn’t arbitrary. The condemnation was earned.
Permit a bit of conjecture along with the details of the parable. (Refer to Matthew 25:14-30 from yesterday.)
The Master distributed HIS talents according to the SERVANT’s ability. While the amount of talents given not as consequential to what the servants chose to do with them, the fact that one was given five (according to his ability) and this servant was given one (according to his ability) perhaps indicates this servant has had a bit of a poor record of handling his Master’s property and affairs. Yet, the Master was willing to invest in him one more time. The servant was given ONE talent to use as the Master desired it to be used…to bring a return.
The servant KNEW the Master was “a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed” (Matthew 25:24). What strikes me is the other two servants did not characterize the master this way, yet had the same master. Whether the other two would characterize the Master that way or not is not said, but it seems the servant who said this felt burdened and resistant to the way the Master operated. He did not revel in his role as servant, just saw the burden of being a servant to a Master he perceived as unjust and demanding.
The servant in fear HID the talent and did NOTHING with it…not even put it on deposit.
So, did the Master have a right to give a very dishonorable discharge to this servant? Yes.
The servant was unfaithful to his Master. He seems to have a persistent record of not being faithful in his stewarding of the Master’s affairs. He seems to have a heart that carries more animosity and resistance to the Master than respect and love for the Master. He refused to even try to carry out the words of his Master.
So he lost the opportunity to serve the Master again.
Unfaithfulness is exhibited by a pattern of refusing to follow the direction of our heavenly Father. Unfaithfulness comes when our heart has resistance and animosity to the Father who loves us and trusts us with a portion of his estate. Unfaithfulness is when we refuse to carry out the role of servant in God’s kingdom, and refuse to put what God has given to us to work for the benefit of the kingdom of God.
The harsh ending of Jesus’ parable is a call to repentance to moments, seasons, or a lifetime of unfaithfulness.
Would the Master have welcomed the servant back if there was repentance and a request for forgiveness? I would guess so. But there was no repentance. And where there is no repentance, there is no application of forgiveness.
Perhaps today is not a message of encouragement, but a call to repentance. We need that as well. Repentance leads to forgiveness. Just as the justice of God will throw out the worthless servant, so the mercy of God will restore the repentant sinner.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Apply: Take time today to repent of unfaithfulness, seek God’s forgiveness and the Spirit’s help to engage faithfully as a servant of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times and seasons of unfaithfulness in my life. As I recognize what my sin deserves, I seek your mercy to cover my unfaithfulness with the faithful life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. AMEN.