Last night I enjoyed the Chapel Men's softball games (they played a doubleheader). The first game had a dramatic ending as Hawley Smith crushed a massive home run to win the game in the bottom of the final inning (truly a "Hawley-wood ending"). Earlier in the day I'd been thinking about how competition is so much a part of our lives. Think about it...we compete for grades in school, we compete to win kickball during recess, our kids compete for neighborhood swim teams. When we grow up we compete for the best jobs and then we compete on the job for the best raises and career opportunities. (come to think of it...do we do anything but compete??) When you compete there are winners and there are losers. While it's very satisfying to win, and if you win on a team it's a great unifying feeling, there are some challenges with winning. We sometimes make the mistake of thinking that, when we win, we are actually better people than those we beat. This can be the source of unhealthy pride, just as losing can be the source of unhealthy discouragement. But the essence of today's thought is that Jesus came to make it possible for all to win. Christ came for All !!
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 12:15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Luke 9:48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."
John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
People are not the enemy, they are the object of the Lord's affection. There is an enemy, the devil, and if we compete it is against the devil to win the souls of men, women and children for their eternal destiny.
blessings,
Rob Smith
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