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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
February 1, 2023
"Victory
Ahead"
Message
summary: Stay
faithful to
God today and
keep pressing
on! Our
greatest
victory lies
just ahead.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"I
press on
toward the
goal to win
the prize for
which God has
called me
heavenward in
Christ Jesus"
(Philippians
3:14). "But
thanks be to
God, who gives
us the victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ" (1
Corinthians
15:57).
Here
in America the
single most
anticipated
and viewed
sporting event
is the Super
Bowl. This
year it's
between the
Kansas City
Chiefs and
Philadelphia
Eagles. Living
amongst
Philadelphia
Eagles fans
for the last
22 years there
is great
excitement in
our area and
we see lots of
team
merchandise
such as
jerseys and
hats wherever
we go.But
they will be
playing
against the
team from
Kansas City,
the region
where I grew
up, so I am a
bit conflicted
and will
actually be
both pleased
and sad
whichever team
wins!
Being
raised in the
Kansas City
area I have
been rooting
for the Chiefs
since
childhood. I
recall
watching the
very first
Super Bowl
(though it was
not yet called
that) with my
Dad in 1967
when the
Chiefs lost to
the Green Bay
Packers. I
went to their
very first
game played at
Arrowhead
Stadium on
August 12,
1972 before my
senior year in
high school.
Though I tend
to follow the
teams in the
region of
where I am
currently
living such as
Pittsburgh
(while in
Northern PA),
New England
and now
Philadelphia,
I have always
been a Kansas
City fan.
Being
raised in the
Kansas City
area I have
been rooting
for the Chiefs
since
childhood. I
recall
watching the
very first
Super Bowl
(though it was
not yet called
that) with my
Dad in 1967
when the
Chiefs lost to
the Green Bay
Packers. I
went to their
very first
game played at
Arrowhead
Stadium on
August 12,
1972 before my
senior year in
high school.
Though I tend
to follow the
teams in the
region of
where I am
currently
living such as
Pittsburgh
(while in
Northern PA),
New England
and now
Philadelphia,
I have always
been a Kansas
City fan.There
cannot be a
tie in the
Super Bowl.
There will be
a winner and a
loser! But
there's not
just one
victor in
life. We like
this verse, "Henceforth
there is laid
up for me the
crown of
righteousness,
which the
Lord, the
righteous
judge, will
award to me on
that day, and
not only to
me but also to
all who have
loved his
appearing"
(2 Timothy
4:8).
A
football
season's
success is a
series of
incremental
steps with the
ultimate goal
of winning the
Super Bowl.
It's preseason
training,
winning
individual
games
throughout the
season. In
each game it's
getting
yardage, first
downs, scores,
and hopefully
winning the
game. It's
winning enough
games to get
into the
playoffs, then
winning the
playoffs,
league
championship
and finally
the Super
Bowl. Each
season is a
long and
arduous
ordeal. Kind
of like life!
In numerous places the Bible uses sports analogies to illustrate a spiritual concept such as "running the race" (Hebrews 12:1) or "boxing" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). I believe Paul is using a sports analogy in our first daily text when he writes "press on".
There is a similar pattern in the Christian life. Our ultimate goal in life, as we journey below, is "to win the prize" which is analogous to life's Super Bowl, though our prize doesn’t last for just one year but for all eternity!
In numerous places the Bible uses sports analogies to illustrate a spiritual concept such as "running the race" (Hebrews 12:1) or "boxing" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). I believe Paul is using a sports analogy in our first daily text when he writes "press on".
There is a similar pattern in the Christian life. Our ultimate goal in life, as we journey below, is "to win the prize" which is analogous to life's Super Bowl, though our prize doesn’t last for just one year but for all eternity!
On
this side we
live
faithfully for
Christ through
many dangers,
toils and
snares by
pressing on
toward the
goal to win
the prize for
which God has
called us
heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
This victory
is absolutely
assured by the
grace of God
for those who
faithfully
believe,
follow, and
obey Jesus
Christ.Yet reaching this goal is a long series of "spiritual first downs." In football the first down is an incremental step normally taken to reach the goal. Life's "first downs" are the incremental overcomings that comprise the daily business of life.
Sometimes we get sacked, in some instances we may even get piled upon. We need to get up, shake it off, and press on.
Some
of you are
down today.
Circumstances
of life have
sacked you.
The forces of
adversity have
even piled up
on you. In
fact, as I
type this
message, I
have some
specific
friends,
including
readers, on my
mind who would
respond,
"Yeah, that's
me for sure".
Get up, shake off, and press on! Paul wrote our daily verse from prison. He surely knew from personal experience what it meant to be sacked and even piled on (read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33). But in his last letter he confidently wrote, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
David Livingstone, pioneer medical missionary to Africa, upon returning to Great Britain was asked, “Where do you want to go now?” Without hesitation, like the good Christian racer he was, Livingstone replied, “I am ready to go anywhere provided it be forward.” (Amen!)
Stay faithful today and keep pressing on! Our greatest victory lies just ahead. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Get up, shake off, and press on! Paul wrote our daily verse from prison. He surely knew from personal experience what it meant to be sacked and even piled on (read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33). But in his last letter he confidently wrote, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
David Livingstone, pioneer medical missionary to Africa, upon returning to Great Britain was asked, “Where do you want to go now?” Without hesitation, like the good Christian racer he was, Livingstone replied, “I am ready to go anywhere provided it be forward.” (Amen!)
Stay faithful today and keep pressing on! Our greatest victory lies just ahead. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
You bless
those who
revere Your
name and
delight in
Your commands.
In the midst
of inner
turmoil or
outer conflict
I will not be
shaken for my
heart remains
steadfast
trusting in
You and Your
overall plan
for my life.
As I meditate
on Your Word
and stand firm
in the midst
of trials and
testings I
know that I
will not be
shaken. I want
to remain
firmly
grounded as I
overcome the
daily
obstacles that
come my way.
Help me to
learn the
valuable
lessons along
the way as I
press on
toward the
goal for which
You have
called me
heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
Many prizes of
earthly value
are earned on
this side, but
the prize of
greatest worth
that offers
eternal reward
is heaven. I'm
headed there
and will leave
all sorrow,
sin, and
sadness
behind. That
will be glory,
be glory for
me! Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Victory
Ahead"
Video
VBFA
Church
Our title
today caused
us to recall
this song from
our Bible
College years
back in the
good ol' days
when we sang
from the
hymnal.
"Victory
In Jesus"
Video
Homecoming
Singers
We've never
been in a
church where
this song was
not among the
favorites!
R.
Kent Hughes
shares a
wonderful
illustration
of pressing on
toward the
goal
immortalized
in the movie,
Chariots of
Fire;
"The
year was 1923,
and the
competing
track teams of
Scotland and
France were
neck and neck.
But among the
events
remaining was
the 440. As
the runners,
clad in
traditional
1920s white,
came to the
first turn,
they were
bunched tight,
shoulder to
shoulder, when
one of them
(Eric Liddell)
was pushed to
the ground and
off the track.
For a second
he was
down—and then
up again,
running
(though twenty
meters
behind), his
knees high,
his head
back—flying.
And as the
leaders
sprinted to
the finish
line, he
emerged ahead
to win!
What would most runners have done? Most would have waved a fist, dusted themselves off, and watched the outcome. Perhaps there would have been a few words exchanged after the race. But the athlete in question was beyond the ordinary. It was as if he had been reading this passage—forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I focus all my energy on the race; and seeing the goal, I fly to the finish."
What would most runners have done? Most would have waved a fist, dusted themselves off, and watched the outcome. Perhaps there would have been a few words exchanged after the race. But the athlete in question was beyond the ordinary. It was as if he had been reading this passage—forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I focus all my energy on the race; and seeing the goal, I fly to the finish."
Yesterday
our friend
Phil shared these
photos he took
while visiting
an indoor
sheep and lamb
barn here in
Lancaster
County. (The
green markings
helps the
farmer to
match lamb to
the proper
ewe.)
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Notice
the feeding
station in the
left of photo.
Those are
feeding nips
where the
lambs can get
their fill of
milk.
Click
on photo to
enlarge
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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