You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
For those of us known as Arkansas Razorback fans, this has been a difficult season. We didn’t win a single Southeastern Conference game this year. In fact, our overall record was 3 wins and 9 losses. In the heartbreaking loss to LSU today, I think we fans experienced every emotion possible. There were moments of frustration, trepidation, hope, sheer joy and delight, and an ultimate sense of outward and inward defeat. But all good Razorback fans know that we win together… we lose together… and we STICK together! The Razorbacks will take the field again next season! And fans will fill the stadium and turn on their televisions and radios to cheer them on in their efforts. We’ll hope and dream of victories…and we’ll celebrate together when we get them!
I wish we were all as hopeful about our Christian faith as we are about football teams. We Christians all serve the same God… we believe in one baptism…one way to Salvation… and an eternity in Heaven with Jesus. We encourage each other in both joys and sorrows… we pray for one another and say that we trust God’s promises to meet our every need. But we often operate in a state of hopelessness. At the first “fumble” or “interception”, we panic… and in any defeat that we are handed, we completely crumble.
Is our faith really so fragile that we fall apart with the first challenge? Are we so insecure in our relationship with God that we cannot grasp how connected we are… to Him and to fellow believers? We are never alone! God is always available to us, and Christ’s disciples are all around us… ready, willing and able to lend us a hand. All we have to do is trust God and call on Him for help…and He will supply whoever and whatever we need!
Today, the starting quarterback for LSU was injured late in the game. Arkansas was ahead as a back-up freshman quarterback for LSU took the field. Arkansas forced LSU to their one-yard line, with mere minutes remaining in the game. And the quarterback steadily drove the ball down the field before throwing a 49-yard pass that was caught for the winning touchdown. Clearly, this team never lost hope. They kept working together for a common goal…and the end result was a victory.
Don’t you think that God will allow this same principle to apply in your spiritual life? Do you see that there is always hope - and victory - with God? Even in the waning minutes of a dire situation – or even your very life… when you are at the end of your rope and it seems you are out of time and options… God is still there – ready, willing, and able to help you turn things around.
So take a look at the situations you are facing – and your life in general. Where have you given up and accepted defeat? Where have you said, “There is no way out of this” or “This is just the way things are” and thrown in the towel? Are you like a “fair weather fan” who only supports the team when they are winning? Or do you trust God to handle whatever comes your way? Are you operating in faith and hope… believing that you can do all things in the strength of Christ Jesus? Is everything you think and do permeated with Oneness? Isn’t it time it was?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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