Friday, October 16, 2015

The Winning Team

Recently in several business gatherings people brought up the results of the progression of the baseball teams toward the Pennant. It is always interesting to see how this change of subject in many meetings result in smiles, lifted countenances, and a sense of camaraderie, even if it is a gathering of strangers. Thinking about this observation this morning, it seemed like we should see that same experience more frequently than than the fall, and in one place specifically – wherever believers gather on a regular basis.

Let’s think about this for a moment. When these gatherings happen around baseball, the baseball believers do not consider the odds. They do not look at past track records. They do not consider current injuries or other obstacles their team faces. All they can see is the prize. Their love for their team and the fact that they are even in the running causes them to eagerly anticipate what that victory will feel like – they have hope. Their belief in their team winning, and their trust that they have and will apply the ability to win, is the substance behind that hope – faith.

We are on the ultimate winning team. Scriptures tell us, and God has confirmed it in His Spirit within me. The letter to the Hebrews addresses this.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Here we see the connection between faith and what we expect. If we expect great things, then that is what our faith really is in – great things. If we expect the worst, then that is what our faith is in – the worst. This leads us to want to better understand what faith is.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

So here we see there are two named elements. The first is the reality of the possibility, which hear is God. The second is trust, that what we believe in will respond to us. Here, that means that God will reward us for seeking after Him. Even when your team is down by five in the bottom of the ninth, and there are two outs, and the pitcher is coming up to bat. We need to be that kind of a fan for our Father, Yahuah (Lord). We need to have that never give up attitude. How do we get that attitude? That will be addressed in greater detail later, but let me just say that it has to do with what we put in front of our eyes, what we say with our mouth, and what we listen to on a regular basis.

We are on the winning team. Always.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. It is Your kingdom that we long for here. We bless the name Yahuah. Send us Your overwhelming provision yet today. Forgive us our sins, even those that are only in our hearts and minds. Cleanse our hearts and minds, and heal us. Deliver us from the evil that is stealing from us. Restore that which has been stolen from us – make the enemy return it one hundred fold. Only You can do this. Only You provide for us. Only You are our deliverer. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.