Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy (Psalm 47:1)
It's almost the time of year that folks in Alabama wait for all year long. On any given Friday night anywhere in Alabama you will find fans who pour into their local high school stadium for that week's big football game, and the air buzzes with anticipation. The band plays the school fight song as the home team runs out onto the field, led by pom-pom waving cheerleaders. Everyone applauds the school colors as they rise to their feet cheering and clapping, shouting for victory. The coaches discuss last-minute changes to the game plan. One team will taste victory and the other defeat. But what will victory cost?
Our psalm describes a similar scene. Instead of honoring a team of athletes, it is a celebration honoring and praising the Lord Most High. But the mood and anticipation of victory is the same. The game plan is already in play. What is different about this celebration? We are already assured of victory. We know who won this "game." It came to us at the cross, the atoning sacrifice that produced eternal salvation for all who believe. It was not an easy victory, though; the price was the precious blood of the incarnate God. What greater reason to celebrate than our victory in Jesus?
There is no win that an earthly team can give that compares with the win that happened that Sunday on the cross. It was the ultimate win ever. There is not touchdown dance that could properly express the sheer joy and victory that came with that win. And the cool thing is, that we can experience that win every day. All you have to do is to turn over control of your life to one true God. All you have to do is ask Jesus Christ to coach your team. Allow him to call the plays in your life. Let him be the one that makes the decisions when the game is on the line. When you can't decide which way to turn, ask Jesus for direction and I can tell you from experience He will lead you the way you need to go. He will always lead you to the right path if you just let him have the map.
So which team are you on? The one that in the end will lose? Or are you on the winning team?
It's almost the time of year that folks in Alabama wait for all year long. On any given Friday night anywhere in Alabama you will find fans who pour into their local high school stadium for that week's big football game, and the air buzzes with anticipation. The band plays the school fight song as the home team runs out onto the field, led by pom-pom waving cheerleaders. Everyone applauds the school colors as they rise to their feet cheering and clapping, shouting for victory. The coaches discuss last-minute changes to the game plan. One team will taste victory and the other defeat. But what will victory cost?
Our psalm describes a similar scene. Instead of honoring a team of athletes, it is a celebration honoring and praising the Lord Most High. But the mood and anticipation of victory is the same. The game plan is already in play. What is different about this celebration? We are already assured of victory. We know who won this "game." It came to us at the cross, the atoning sacrifice that produced eternal salvation for all who believe. It was not an easy victory, though; the price was the precious blood of the incarnate God. What greater reason to celebrate than our victory in Jesus?
There is no win that an earthly team can give that compares with the win that happened that Sunday on the cross. It was the ultimate win ever. There is not touchdown dance that could properly express the sheer joy and victory that came with that win. And the cool thing is, that we can experience that win every day. All you have to do is to turn over control of your life to one true God. All you have to do is ask Jesus Christ to coach your team. Allow him to call the plays in your life. Let him be the one that makes the decisions when the game is on the line. When you can't decide which way to turn, ask Jesus for direction and I can tell you from experience He will lead you the way you need to go. He will always lead you to the right path if you just let him have the map.
So which team are you on? The one that in the end will lose? Or are you on the winning team?
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