by Kala Loptien

Who’s Winning?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this Sound Cloud link.

I am competitive. In fact, if a word existed a few levels beyond competitive, that could possibly be me. I spent a good portion of my adolescence and early adulthood playing competitive sports. The victories were celebrated; the losses mourned. Regardless of the outcome, we always spent some time with teammates, coaches and family members analyzing and replaying games. Stat sheets were printed and displayed. Who performed? Who fell short? How will we prepare for the next opponent?

But sometimes keeping score goes beyond just a sporting event, doesn’t it? As humans, born with a chronic, sinful condition, our scoreboard often displays comparisons, envy, greed and more. Often, even what we consider good works or acts of service are contaminated by pride and ulterior motives. We like to feel important. We seek favor and recognition. We want to prove our worth and imagine the stat sheet. Are you envisioning it now?

The opponent (the enemy) would have us believe that the scoreboard and the stat sheets matter. He loves that foothold. The one where we’re comparing ourselves to our friends/family–whether it’s all the mistakes and trials or the lists of “good” we’ve done. How about the envy we hold in our heart for a gift given to others? It could be a lot like what befell Adam and Eve: to know more, get more and be more.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 English Standard Version

Here’s where that beautiful Good News makes its entrance. For followers of Jesus, we can rest knowing that when God looks at that stat sheet or scoreboard, He sees one thing: the righteousness of Christ. The ultimate Champion. He came to earth; lived a perfect life and died on that cross to be raised victorious. Because of Him, WE are more than conquerors. We are His. He has defeated sin, death and the devil. In Him, we are raised to new life. Game over.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado