Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Keith and Kristyn Getty singing their song … By Faith … proclaiming the reality of the power of faith in Christ to defeat the powers of darkness and sin.
Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 12:1-2 [NKJV] …
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
… We are on God’s team; and we are to follow Jesus as our team leader and coach.
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Highlight Context: Hebrews 11:31-12:3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… To the Jewish Christians in the 1st century (and to us), He exhorts us to run the race of life, looking unto Jesus in order to win.
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Reference Passage #1 … Romans 8:31-37 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul teaches the truth that when we’re on God’s team, nothing … NOTHING … can separate us from God’s love. … If God is for us, nothing can stand against us (Rom. 8:32).
Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 3:13-14 [NKJV] …
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
… God, thru Paul, shows faithful Christians how we must move forward - TOGETHER - faithfully following our Lord to the goal He has for us as His winning team.
Reference Passage #3 … 2nd Peter 1:2-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter encourages persecuted Christians that God has given believers all we need to walk in victory.
My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, uses a sports allegory to illustrate how we Christians are on God’s team. He wrote: A large sign at the Texas A&M University football stadium says “HOME OF THE 12TH MAN.” [see photo] While each team is allowed eleven players on the field, the 12th Man is the presence of thousands of A&M students who remain standing during the entire game to cheer their team on.
The tradition traces its roots to 1922 when the coach called a student from the stands to suit up and be ready to replace an injured player. Although he never entered the game, his willing presence on the sideline greatly encouraged the team.
Today’s ODB entry highlights Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews where the Author, writing to 1st Century persecuted Jewish Christians, presents a list of faithful believers who preceded the most faithful of God’s followers, King Jesus; and this chapter highlights the impact that all these faithful had on Christians today.
The ODB for today uses a sports allegory to illustrate how we, who are on God’s team of faithful followers, can be - and should be - impacted by the faith of past believers to move forward to follow Christ as our team leader and to be on God’s winning team.
The question of challenge from today’s ODB asks if we’re part of Christ’s team; and if so, are we following Him faithfully to carry out the goal and plan He has for His team of disciples? Personally, I have decided to follow King Jesus as my Coach and Team Leader. I so desire to be one of those faithful who the Gettys sing about in the song linked above.
How about you?
My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, show us Your game plan and be our team leader. We will follow Your lead. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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