✝ Daily Encouragement (2/1/23) “Victory Ahead"

Published: Wed, 02/01/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & 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.

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"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!

Kansas City Chiefs

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!

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!

Be encouraged today, ( Hebrews 3:13)

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."

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

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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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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