✝ Daily Encouragement (4/23/24) "No Rival, No Equal!"

Published: Tue, 04/23/24

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Tuesday, April 23, 2024

"No Rival, No Equal!"

Message summary: God has no rival and no equal. Now and forever, He reigns!

Listen to our message on your audio player .

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17).

We hear about a lot of rivalries in life: sports rivalries, sibling rivalries, corporate rivalries, political rivalries and so forth.

A rivalry is defined as "the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship". Rivalry is the 'against each other' spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called a rivalry, and each participant or side a rival to the other.

We consider great rivalries in sports. Perhaps the best known and longest lasting is the baseball rivalry between New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox dating back to 1901. During that time they have played each other 2,320 times.* We saw the intensity of this rivalry when we lived in the Boston area in the 90's.

In the corporate world we consider the longstanding rivalry between Coke and Pepsi.

The Bible speaks of rivalries as well, usually in a family sense such as the bitter rivalry between twin brothers Jacob and Esau. At the time of Christ's trial Herod and Pilate were rivals. Even among the Twelve there is some evidence of rivalry such as the peculiar seating request by James and John. (Mark 10:35-40). "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John" (Mark 10:41).

Paul alludes to a type of rivalry that exists among ministries and the motivation for preaching: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:15,16). Sad to say these types of questionable motivations and ministry rivalries still exist today.

Many of us have been blessed by the powerful worship song "What A Beautiful Name" which we sang in our church this last Lord's Day. It comes to a majestic crescendo with this verse:

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God, you reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

I am especially blessed by the line, "You have no rival, You have no equal".

Satan is God's ancient adversary but he is not God's rival. No doubt, he would like to reckon himself as God's rival and we may mistakenly see him that way.

However a rivalry is a contest between two equals. We wouldn't speak of the New York Yankees and the little league team I played on in Belton, Missouri as being rivals.

Satan is a part of the created order, a fallen angel.

God is the Creator of the universe. He is "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth " (Genesis 14:19).

We serve the God whose Name is above every name, we serve the King who is "eternal, immortal, invisible".

Today lift your eyes and direct your heart:

to the One who has no rival,
to the One who has no equal,
to the One, now and forever, who is steadily reigning over the affairs of the universe and over the affairs of your life.
His is the Kingdom.
His is the glory.
His is the Name above all names!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Jesus, through Your sacrificial death You silenced the boast of sin and the grave. Though my sin was great, Your love was greater; and nothing can separate us now. You indeed have no rival, and You have no equal. What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus, that at Your name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Lyrics from "What a Beautiful Name" and Philippians 2 adapted in prayer.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"What A Beautiful Name" Watch on YouTube From our service this last Sunday at Calvary Church in Lancaster.

"Holy, There Is No One Like You" Watch on YouTube Housefires

"See How Good It Is (Psalm 133) " Watch on YouTube Wendell Kimbrough featuring Sandra McCracken Suggested by Nigel based on yesterday's message on neighborliness. Nigel, along with his wife Laifong, are good friends who attended our congregation in Taunton, MA.

See how good it is
Gathering with friends
Welcoming the stranger in
See how good it is

* The 15 Greatest Rivalries in Sports

The pink dogwood tree in our backyard

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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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