Sometimes I find myself down, lost, unmoved and overall… blah. I still have my faith, my heart is still madly in love with our creator, and personally wishing for some kind of fireworks… but in actuality it is just… blah.
It reminds me of pep rallies that I would attend in high school. Even though I was missing a portion of class time, the events were not on my list of enjoyment. But nevertheless, as the band started to play, the cheers rose from the crowd and the excitement grew, I found myself cheering the team on in support. My heart was enlightened, a smile on my face and the confidence abound that our team would be the victors.
I find playing on the team for Christ, we also need our pep talks on occasion too.
In Ephesians chapter one, you can just imagine Paul with a mic in hand, delivering this address with the song, “We are the Champions”, playing from the pep band….
Ephesians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
I praise our coach, for He is the one that has given to us. What would we be without his leadership?
1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Our heavenly coach loved and picked us from the beginning. He had us in mind before He even made us, because he wanted each one of us on His team.
1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
He sent His son to cleanse us and prepare us to be a asset to the Holy team. He overlooks our past failures and dedicated His abilities to strengthen us.
1:8-12 With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Even though we don’t understand the ways of the game, He has reveled to us His ways and the rules to follow to success and be victorious.
1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
When you were picked for the team, you had a choice to join or not. Because you had the confidence in what was presented to you and you placed on the jersey, God promised you a trainer to help in your development. With this trainer you are guaranteed a victory and your rewards will be grand.
1:15-19 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
When I heard that you joined the team, I have not stopped rooting for you. I ask your coach to teach you all that He knows. I ask you to understand the treasures that are given to you because you are a part of the team. And the precious resources that are now in your hands. The victory is guaranteed by this power.
1:19-21 That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Your coach has won the greatest battle of all time, He has the trophy and glory seated at His right hand. He has the ability to defeat any of the lesser competition. There is no greater than He, for now and forever.
1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
God has picked his team from the trainers, coaches, and players. He has placed all of us into positions to accomplish the Victory of the game. Now go train, get fit by the restoring of your mind and body. Prepare for the meeting of your competition, fore you are placed on the greatest of all teams and have all the resources needed to have God’s glorious victory.
Go Team Go!!!
With God, we are nothing less than the Champions…
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