"We Are The Champions!" This song, performed by Queen was the introduction to our lesson today. The words of the chorus state, "We are the champions--my friends--and we'll keep on fighting till the end--We are the champions--We are the champions--No time for losers--'Cause we are the champions of the World." The class considered all the areas of life in which we strive to "be the champion." Some of these areas include athletic games, political campaigns, TV Reality Shows such as "American Idol," "Dancing with the Stars," "Design Challenge," food preparation shows, runway competion for the design of clothes, Miss America, Top 20 lists, Academy Awards, and many more. We also considered the fact that even if we achieve the ultimate success in these areas, it seldom provides long-term satisfaction. C.S. Lewis said, "If I find in myself desires which nothing on earth can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."
With all of our "wins" in this life, do you sense that a great "win" still escapes you, awaiting another, future world? How does this distant, unattainable win impact you and influence your way of living. What does the Apostle Paul say about our future "win" together with Christ? How does the Apostle Paul describe the Holy Spirit's presence and work in our lives until we receive this future win? [See Romans 8: 1-17]
We also talked about a great movie, "The Cider House Rules," in which a big-hearted medical doctor cared for a bunch of kids in a New England orphanage. Dr. Largent always ended each night in the orphanage with this saying: "Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England." Words of affirmation can be a very powerful means of blessing others. As we read today's scripture, we see that Paul has indeed declared us "Champions"--joint heirs with Jesus, adopted heirs to the kingdom of God--and he blesses us with words of affirmation by discussing our royal victory with Christ the King.
Yes, ladies and gentleman, you are winners in Christ. It has already been determined! You and I can rest assured that we will be triumphant over evil and over sin because of the price already paid by our Savior. In addition, we can take comfort in the fact that the Holy Spirit has indwelled our lives and that we can experience strength in the Holy Spirit through the future hope of our ultimate victory in Christ.
I hope you will speak a blessing of affirmation into someone's life this week and that you will draw on the strength and peace of the Holy Spirit in your present life as well as the assurance of your future victory with Christ!
Have a great week, you princes of the Brazos Valley, you kings of Bryan-College Station. You are royalty in the kingdom of God. Live like it!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment