In part one of this two-part devotion we are going to begin to explore the ultimate winning combination – you and Jesus. When David wrote (Psalm 34:8) he knew what he was talking about. This precious verse reads: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
The moment you invited Jesus Christ into your life you became part of a winning team that just can’t lose. And in a very real sense you are now part of a special team whose manager has never lost an event. With the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abiding within you, you have on your side the greatest one-two-three punch in history.
All God asks you to do is to listen to His coaching instructions, and He guarantees you a first place finish every time you enter into the arena of life.
If you have ever watched late night television you probably have seen the commercials that advertise those special products which can do a thousand and one things; all for just $29.95 plus shipping and handling. In addition, they tell you that if you act right now, they will even throw in a special bonus item free of charge.
The minute you entered into a personal relationship with Jesus, God promises you a thousand and one blessings. He will even throw in the gift of eternal life at no additional charge. When the psalmist tells us: “…How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:12), we need only turn to (Ephesians 1:3) to find out just how blessed this is: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
As we travel deeper on with the Lord, and our roadway to heaven, we soon learn that God promises to serve us a wonderful assortment of fruits each day. (Galatians 5:22-23) tells us: “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
And as we continue to mature in the Lord, we soon realize that we have a delightful dilemma to contemplate each day that we inhabit our physical bodies. I think all of us as maturing Christians can relate to what the Apostle Paul told the Philippian Christians in (Philippians 1:21): “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Amidst the trials and tribulations of everyday living, we have the ability to experience the rich peace and joy which the Lord Jesus promised to leave us with when He departed earth. (John 14:27) tells us: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” And (John 15:11) says it so beautifully: “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
And when we die, we clearly will gain a whole new dimension of blessings that will never fade away and will no longer have to be mingled with the trials we must face here on earth. So, you see as Christians, whether we live or die, we gain either way.
In part II tomorrow, of this wonderful devotion, we will continue to share some additional thoughts on why as Christians we just can’t lose; no matter what trials we may have to go through as we travel on this journey called life.