Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: The Permanence of Love! (LISTEN HERE)
Winning streaks are pretty impressive. When teams don’t just put a few wins together, but play for a long period of time or over a period of seasons and continue to win…that is impressive.
This website has the top 25 sports winning streaks. https://www.stadiumtalk.com/s/greatest-winning-streaks-sports-history-aafb0511490a4dbe
Included are a 112 match streak by women’s beach volleyball players, Misti May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh; or a NCAA football record 55 consecutive wins by Mount Union Football; or USA basketball teams impressive 78 straight wins in international play.
There were a few fighters that had undefeated records, most notable was Rocky Marciano who retired with a 49-0 record.
What stood out to me was that every streak came to an end. Even if one retired before they were defeated, if they continued to fight in the ring eventually they would lose.
There are a lot of impressive athletes and teams who have put together impressive win streaks. Perhaps you have played on one. It’s fun to win, and who wouldn’t want to be part of a winning team.
But can something always win and never lose? No matter who the opponent is?
Love can.
While these players and teams often achieved the highest prize in their sport, eventually someone else will be crowned the champion. To be the permanent champion you’d have to play and play and play and play and never quit…and never lose.
Love is the permanent champion.
The Apostle Paul understood that love never loses…God’s love never loses.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Human love gives up. Our ability to show love falters. People’s reaction to love is not always positive. So it seems like love loses.
But even though it may seem like love loses, there is nothing in heaven or earth that can cause God’s love to cease to exist or be shown. God’s love is permanent…because NOTHING can defeat it!
Apply: What changes when you consider the people and situations you are engaging with and choose to lead with God’s love instead of a different approach?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your permanent, victorious love that always wins…no matter who the opponent is. Help me to always play on the winning team with your love as the main strength against any opponent.