How Many Ways Are There to be a Super Bowl Champion?

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are set to face off in this year’s Super Bowl. There will be many bets including who will score first, have more passing yards, and have more first downs. However, none of these things make either of the teams a Super Bowl champion. The only way to be this year’s Super Bowl champion is to score more points than the other team during this year’s Super Bowl.

How many ways are there to know God the Father? Jesus said “...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We are told in John 3:17-18 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. And how are we saved? Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast”.

At the end of the Super Bowl there will be only one champion. More importantly, we as Christians know that belief in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice for our sins and acceptance of His lordship in our lives is the only way to have a personal relationship with God. Will you take a moment to be thankful that “...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21)?

Who Do You "Go To"?

You probably have heard the expression “go-to guy” before. This is the person that people go to when they need something or when times get tough because they know that the “go-to guy” will come through. Wouldn’t it be nice to always have someone that you could count on regardless of the circumstances in your life?

Fortunately, there is one who is able to provide just that for those who have trusted Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Saviour. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...”. Jesus also tells us “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-12). These gifts include that God will never forsake or leave us (Hebrews 13:5), will meet all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Philipians 4:19), and He asks us to cast all of our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We are further told God will deliver us in our day of trouble if we call upon Him (Psalm 50:15).

These promises are not made by a weak god, but instead by the one true God. Jesus was able to control the sea, cast demons out of men, feed thousands by multiplying food, and conquer death. This is why Paul was able to write “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

Who’s Number 1?

Alabama and Texas are facing off tonight to determine who is the number 1 college football team in the country. However, there is a much more important question that we face each day of our lives. Who is number 1 in our lives to drive our thoughts, actions, and habits? A lot of potential answers can be discussed, but they ultimately boil down to two options. Do we try to be the god of our own lives or do we allow the one Holy God to be sovereign in our lives?

Saying that we can serve both ourselves and God is not an acceptable answer. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Similarly, the account of the rich young ruler who could not bear to part with his possessions reminds us of how true Jesus’ words are (Luke 18:18-27). In addition, the accounts of Moses, David, and Peter give personal examples of how even God’s servants can succumb to their own selfish desires at times.

So, why should we allow God to be number 1 in our lives? For starters, He sent Christ to save the world (John 3:16). We are also told in Psalm 119:105 that God’s word is “...a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 23 reminds us that if we allow God to serve as our shepherd that we shall not be in want and shall fear no because God is with us. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31 “...If God is for us, who can be against us?...”. I am encouraged when I am reminded of these great promises from God...I hope you are too.