Winning Christians answer these kinds of questions: When life is over, what have you got? When the moment comes for stepping into eternity, is there anything you can take with you? When the horn sounds, does it really matter whether you were a winner or loser as a believer? If you have asked these questions, how have you answered? It’s not too late to change the answer or to improve the answer. Paul shows us how.
Practice is not the point; playing is the point. However, no one wins on the playing field without first winning on the practice field. That is true in the realm of athletics and also true in the realm of Christianity. Paul not only encouraged his readers to live as gold-medal followers of Christ, he also provided powerful advice on the kind of practice that that produces championship disciples. The winning strategy is clear, and the winning results cannot be denied.
What will the future be? Will it be a life of running away from difficulty, even injustice? Or, will it be a life of hearing and seeing God in the midst of the difficulty and/or injustice? Will it be the futility of screaming against the difficulty and the injustices? Or, will it be the overflow of blessing to those around you while trusting the Lord to work out the rest?
Critical Race Theory? Intersectionality? Social Justice? What do these terms mean? Are these ideas the best answer to what ails America, or is there a better answer? If this nation truly wants to experience societal healing, the prescription for that healing is found in Genesis 18:19.
In the first six verses of Genesis 16 we see injustice and unrighteousness. In verse 7 we see the beginning of justice and righteousness as God made movement toward the one whose value had been diminished. Do you suppose those in America today who think they have been treated unfairly and unrighteously and contemptibly have any awareness that the Lord is making movement toward them? What about you? In Genesis 16:7 God reveals the first step toward the resolution of injustice and unrighteousness on both a national scale as well as personal.
John 3:14-15 is intimately connected to Numbers 21:4-9. Actually, without Numbers 21:4-9 the interpretation of John 3:14-15 would not only be impossible, it wouldn’t even make sense. However, the connection sets these passages at the heart of dynamic Christian living. If you’ve ever had difficulty finding peace and rest, this message is for you. Joyful contentment is only minutes away.