He Is at Your Right Hand…Foot
Good Morning Friends,
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The World Cup is over. And I wonder if Pope John Paul, who was a soccer goalie, would approve of how it played out. I have never ever seen anything quite like it. From the Google Doodles daily and creatively bringing a message to the coverage of the games to the last minute goals. Ok, I have succumbed to writing a devotional about soccer. It is not about Messi, Ronaldo, Kaka, Dempsey, Rooney or whoever you follow. It’s about the passion and influence of what God is doing on a global scale. Now God is telling me that just including the attached photo will suffice but since I have a choice of exploring the possibility of something that might glorify God, I am going to keep writing. Hopefully, I am past the point of caring more about what people think than caring what God thinks, and what is best for me and what is best for soccer. It is after all just a game. But here is the thing. I can tell you today that a relationship with the one true God through Jesus Christ will help you become a better person. It will help you be a better parent or grandparent. It can help you be a better spouse. It can help you become a better friend and even a better soccer player! It will improve your quality of life, because it allows you to deal with the hurts and disappointments in life, freeing you to enjoy each day without anger, fear, guilt, or other negative emotions, that bog you down. However, one of the greatest things about knowing God is knowing that the future is taken care of- not only in this life, but in the life to come. So what will your story be? Will it start with getting close to God by repenting for kicking someone? Will you understand that God wants us to get close to Him in scoring a goal? Will we understand on the journey that it requires believing the truth about God before the penalty kicks? Will you understand that it takes more than being part of a religion to experience God? Friends, if God is everywhere, kind of like soccer was the last few weeks, then it follows also that He Is at Your Right Hand…Foot. Scripture: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 (NIV) “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NRSV) |
I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8 (NRSV)
The psalmist wrote, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?”
Psalm 139:7 (NRSV)
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NRSV)
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”[g] They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Matthew 20:20-23 (NRSV)
Message: The mother of the Sons of Thunder would have been a soccer mom. She wanted her sons to play in the most important positions. She did not get it all right but she did realize that in our lives keeping Jesus at a distance, it’s not worth it! Friends, what you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. Things need to be put it in there proper place. So choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one’s chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender…the Captain of your soccer team. Friends, every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response. When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand…right foot. Take courage from the Advocate. Everything you do is to be in the context of your relationship to Christ. Still we need to realize that to win the World Cup one has to be good enough, but to win the prize of salvation one has to be bad enough to realize we need grace.
Pray we realize that there is a prize to be won. Pray we receive the goal of faith and the salvation of our souls. Pray we run and not be weary. Pray we not squander opportunities. Pray we realize it is about teamwork. Pray we not keep the ball to ourselves. Pray we realize the importance of spiritual training once we believe. Pray we train to be Godly. Pray we have a Captain to follow who encourages us and urges us on to victory.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 