A HOPE TO KEEP GOING

DAY 19 Winning Edge Devotions

HEB. 12: 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

A comeback victory is the sweetest win of all. There is something about a football team being down and all hope seems lost, and they find a way to claw back and win it in the end!

It’s getting harder to keep teams in that ‘never quit’ mindset. There have been times in my coaching past where I stop a film at a point where we are 14 or 21 points down and ask the team, “Right here, men, did you still believe you could win?”

Part of the inability to stay focused and fight is a modern phenomenon called “the re-set button”. It is a button found on most video games. If the game starts poorly, most kids will just press that re-set button.

My generation had no such button. We had to learn to keep playing. If I could pick a re-set button, I would use it in golf. I could keep re-starting until I got that par on the first hole! I will say that I am glad I grew up without that re-set button, I learned that there is an honor of fighting well to the end and, at times, you come back and win!

Jesus is an inspiration of endurance. I am still amazed at the courage, discipline, and toughness needed by Him to choose to die. In agony, he prayed the night before His torturous road to the cross- there was NO short cut to salvation- it was a road that no man can imagine!

When this verse says that he endured the cross for the joy set before Him, can I fathom that?! What was His joy?

The joy was you and me. He looked forward to welcoming us into His kingdom based on His sacrificial purchase of our very souls. How did He keep walking uphill while the blood dripped down? JOY How did he gather Himself to lie down willingly on that cross? JOY How did He endure the agony of nails? JOY How did He endure the shame of sin? JOY

You are in the 19th day of walking with Christ. Some days have been so sweet and good, while others have been tedious and difficult. Keep Jesus as your model. If He kept getting up, so can you! Don’t give up on your pursuit. Keep moving to the Lord and look forward to your comeback victory!

Father, You are the King of Comebacks! When things seem all but lost, You break through in swift and sudden victory. For the sake of joy, keep me steady in YOU!
AMEN