✝ Daily Encouragement (1/29/24) "Underdogs"

Published: Mon, 01/29/24

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Monday, January 29, 2024

Michigan winter scene (photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt)

Winter scene in rural northern Michigan
Photo by our friend Howard J. Blichfeldt

(used by permission)

"Underdogs"

Message summary: We all are underdogs. Only through Christ's redemption are we accepted into God's family and admitted entry into heaven. This glorious transition is not a luck of the draw nor can it be earned, purchased or inherited, for it is made possible entirely by His marvelous grace!

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

I have enjoyed football since I was a child. I broke my ankle playing football which essentially ended any hope of NFL stardom for me. I remember watching the very first "Super Bowl"* with my dad on a small grainy black and white TV. (I appreciated that TV much more than I do now since I can compare it all these years later with the "upgrades" in clarity, color and size. In that game our home team, Kansas City, got trounced by the mighty Green Bay Packers.

So today bear with me as I illustrate a spiritual truth from football. (If you can't bear this type of illustration scroll down to the paragraph in bold for Biblical exposition!)

Yesterday there were two NFL conference championship games. The underdog Chiefs beat the Ravens just 55 miles (if crows fly straight) south of us in Baltimore. Of course being raised in the Kansas City area I was pleased with the outcome of that game.

The second game featured an interesting match-up of quarterbacks, Jared Goff , a first overall draft pick playing for Detroit and Brock Purdy a very last draft pick playing for San Francisco. The very last draft pick has a nickname, "Mr. Irrelevant" which is "a disreputable reference to how the public and teams evaluate their skill level. Most players drafted with the very last draft pick do not go on to complete storied or notable careers. Often times a player chosen with this pick is released from the team that drafted them before preseason or training camps begin." (Wikipedia)

One quarterback at one time deemed the very best draft pick against another who barely made the draft by the "skin of his teeth" (a phrase from Job 19:20). In regard to having much success in NFL football Purdy is an underdog but has turned out to be a remarkable player. He now has been nicknamed "Mr. Relevant"! And his team won yesterday's match-up.

"Underdog" is a term meaning a competitor (team or individual) thought to have a lesser chance of winning in sports . In life it means a person who has little status in society.

Today let us consider a spiritual application for underdogs and those who may feel they are irrelevant.

Paul candidly describes the Corinthians (and virtually all of us reading this): "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth." Does that describe you? In a sense it describes all of us, but some more pronounced than others.

Think of where you've come from, spiritually speaking, and your acceptance into God's family. Many of you come from "good" families where God's truths were demonstrated and taught and that is such a blessing. But undoubtedly many others, came into this world under very difficult circumstances and others come from homes far from ideal.

Paul continues, " But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him".

What a great message for any of you who might identify as an underdog! Today may we all boast in Him alone. We've been accepted in the Beloved and we are a part of God's family. Whether we were born into the most proper of families by this world's standards, we were still born into sin, thus we were born with the sin nature - everyone of us, all underdogs.

Only through Christ's redemption are we accepted into God's family and admitted entry into heaven. This glorious transition is not a luck of the draw and cannot be earned, purchased or inherited, for it is made possible entirely by His marvelous grace!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, how marvelous is Your indescribable grace that You should love a sinner such as I. Though I deserve death You grant eternal life through the death of Your beloved Son, Jesus. I am accepted into Your family, into the sainthood of all believers, through my redemption in Christ. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Grace Alone" Watch on YouTube Boyce Worship Collective

"Worthy of It All" Watch on YouTube Shane & Shane (We sang this song in our church service yesterday and were so blessed by the worship expression.)

"Such Love! Watch on YouTube Michael Lining Music (This old hymn cane to mind based on a lone in the prayer, "that You should love a sinner such as I".

Yesterday Ross, one of our Sunday School teachers, taught a lesson about understanding Islam. He referred to his main source that many of you may benefit from. Investigating Islam with Dr. Jay Smith (2 Corinthians 10:5) Video (1 hour 12 minutes) Many years ago we met Jay Smith who is very active and bold as an apologist.

* In the mid-1960s, Lamar Hunt, owner of the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs, first used the term "Super Bowl" to refer to the AFL–NFL championship game in the merger meetings. Hunt later said the name was likely in his head because his children had been playing with a Super Ball toy; a vintage example of the ball is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. In a July 25, 1966, letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, Hunt wrote, "I have kiddingly called it the 'Super Bowl,' which obviously can be improved upon."

The leagues' owners chose the name "AFL–NFL Championship Game", but in July 1966 the Kansas City Star quoted Hunt in discussing "the Super Bowl—that's my term for the championship game between the two leagues", and the media immediately began using the term. Although the league stated in 1967 that "not many people like it", asking for suggestions and considering alternatives such as "Merger Bowl" and "The Game", the Associated Press reported that "Super Bowl" "grew and grew and grew—until it reached the point that there was Super Week, Super Sunday, Super Teams, Super Players, ad infinitum". "Super Bowl" became official beginning with the third annual game. (From Wikipedia)

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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.

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