But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
It's nice to be a winner.
It was a number of years ago my son's grade-school basketball team captured a first-place trophy at a local tournament.
That night, he asked me to give him a back rub to work out a little of the soreness. As I worked at a knot, he asked with a fair amount of pride, "Dad, is this the first time you ever rubbed the back of a champion?"
I told him, with a smile, that it was, in all of my years, a first.
Every day we run into a lot of people who have been beaten down by life. Somehow, someway, something has managed to sap the energy, the vigor, and the joy from them.
What a wonderful thing it would be if we could make them all feel like champions - - at least for a day. I imagine you won't be surprised if I tell you that Jesus has made all of His people into champions.
Yes, He was the One who fought against sin, Satan and death. He alone is the one who has achieved the victory. And then, having won, He invited us onto the victor's stand with Him.
Because of what the Christ has done, we champions have the opportunity to give everyone we meet a bit more respect that we might have.
We have the chance to invite them onto the team where Jesus makes sinners into saints, losers into champs.
Which is why, today, I invite you to invite one more person into the Lord's circle of winners.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, as You have lifted me up, may I be Your representative in lifting up others. Send Your Holy Spirit upon me so I may share your love with someone else. In Your Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 147-148 1 Corinthians 4
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