8-30-2022

Good Morning All,

                1 Corinthians 15:57; “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

   It is always an exciting and electric time during a ballgame, especially the championship game.  It is that moment, late in the game, when the victory is assured.  During a football game it is when the losing team has to surrender possession of the ball and they have no timeouts remaining to stop the clock.  During a basketball game it is when the point difference is too great for the time left to play.  During a baseball game it is when the closer pitcher comes in and gets each successive batter out with little effort exerted.  You can feel the intensity in the crowd.

    It starts off with a low rumble and slowly grows louder.  Those who are there to cheer on the victorious team begin to stand and yell and chant out the superior qualities of their team.  With each passing second the excitement builds.  It builds in the fans; it builds in the players; it even begins to show in the coaches.  Everyone begins to display their exuberance.  The fans begin to yell louder and louder.  They begin to jump and to wave their arms in total joy.  The players begin to hug each other and pat each other on the back.  They begin to wave at the crowd and make their interactions with the crowd more boisterous.  The coach will either take off the headset he has been wearing all game or simply sit back and watch with a smile on his face.  The victory is assured, and it is only a few moments away.

    We as the church should be at this same fervor pitch.  The victory is at hand, and it is secured.  It is a time when we should be standing and cheering and celebrating our victory over the devil, over the world and over death.  We have been given the victor’s crown and, with it, we have eternal life.  We really are just running out the clock.  The devil and his allies cannot defeat us.  Their loss was guaranteed on Calvary, and it was signified to the world when the tomb was left empty.  The victory is ours so why are we so muted in our response?

    Why do we sit back and waver as the world charges forward?  Why do we act as if the world and the devil are winning?  We can and should go forth with all boldness and with all confidence.  We can go forth and go about reclaiming the broken ones that are still out there in the world.  We can boldly go forth and seek out the hurting and the lost and tell them of the victory that is ours, already assured by the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We are the champions, guaranteed by God through his promise.  We are the victors delivered by the blood of Jesus.  We have the victory now we can go and live like champions!

Father, lead me in the paths of your righteousness.  Lead me to live as the victor of this life.  You have given your Son to be my Savior; give me the strength to live in this new life.  Help me to see the needs of others and let me be your face to show them your mercy.  Lead me to the paths of the people who need me and lead those people to my path that I need.  In your mercy, lift us up.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret