PSALM 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

TO PONDER

When I played soccer in high school, I played for our town's local team. We were not very good. Many of the other teams in our local competition were run by local ethnic clubs in the district, clubs like the Croatian club, the Italian club, generally European countries who take soccer very seriously. So, each week, we would travel to whichever local soccer field was hosting the games for that week and prepare to lose, and prepare to lose big. I'm not sure why I kept playing to be honest, it wasn't a good feeling.

Then one week it happened. We won a game. You cannot imagine the elation of our entire team. It didn't matter that the opposition were the only other team in the comp not to have won a game, we had done it and I don' think I've ever heard a louder sound of car horns going off at any country sport event ever. Every car that had driven to this game from my hometown of Portland, Victoria blew it's horn and celebrated our victory with us.

Sometimes it's easy to believe that we are on the losing team in this life. Christians are not respected like they used to be, we don't have the same kind of influence in society as we might have had in the past. Many people these days don't see what Christianity has to offer and as a result, tend to think of Christians as weak minded or ignorant folk who just refuse to keep up with the times.

But we know victory is on the way. the battles in this life may be hard to fight, but Jesus has won for us the ultimate victory, the one that really counts. To borrow again from the world of sport; it's like Jesus has won four Cricket test matches for us in a five game series, and while we still have to play the final game, the result doesn't matter because the outcome is assured, Jesus is the victor and he will be exalted.

So even if you feel like you are constantly losing you can relax knowing that in the end, Jesus has you covered. Rest and rely on him to get you through.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you invite me to share in your victory. Thank you that even when it feel like I'm struggling to get any runs on the board or to kick any goals in life, that you have won the victors crown and I can rest knowing that your victory is also mine and that when you come to earth again, you will settle things once and for all and I will find myself at your victory feast. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle