Goal

Just a few weeks ago many of you were tuned into the World Cup soccer competition...I am not too up on soccer and the game in general... but I did find myself watching it when I could. I knew the basics; there were two teams, and a goal at either end....and the players were in great shape, no armor and would put their whole body, even their heads into the game. Their stamina and perseverance was amazing....and they all had a true focus on playing hard to win for their country but also for themselves. But no matter how well they did on the field....or how hard they played...or how much time they had ball possession.....there was only one thing that ultimately mattered....it was strategically getting the ball past the goalie and into the goal.

Our little bible study group is just days away from finishing the goal of reading the "Bible in 90 days." And there has been opposition...on all parts of our task field. But the reason this topic of soccer even came to mind is that I am in "I Peter"...and as I was reading the word "GOAL" just jumped off of the page.
1 Peter 1:8-10 (New International Version)8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the GOAL of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
and then I remembered that just a few pages back...that same goal was talked about in Philippians:

Philippians 3
Pressing on Toward the Goal 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

Ok...we set goals everyday...but do the goals we set really have lasting eternal value. Probably not unless they are Christ centered and not self centered. Well, consider a minute God's goal....for us. We too are in a world cup match for victory...one team against another...God vs Satan. Each team has valued players...equipped with tools to accomplish their own strategies....but the bottom line is that a winner has already been established...It is the team that Jesus Christ is captain of. His team is stronger, more powerful, more strategic, wiser and the unity of His team is built with the tools of love and grace, humility, honesty, integrity, patience, honor....and mercy. Whereas the opponents are equipped with manipulative lies and unregulated tactics. There is a goal at each end of our life field. We are free to choose our team...we are free to decide which captain we want to play under. But each day we have an opportunity to score for our chosen team. We can play by Christ's rules....and know through our faith that all will turn out well in the end...in spite of the taps of unsportsmanlike play....or we can choose to team up with the opposition allowing frustration, disappointment, fear and despair to build up a team of unrelenting players....who will always be losers.

But there is always going to be a goalie to stay focused on the play and try to block whatever attempt we make to score....no matter what side we are on. Christ is the goalie who protects us and guards us against the follies and advances of Satan's team.
And Christs' abilities and achievements far outweigh the goalie set at the other end. For when he chooses, Christ can just breath his breathe and the goalie at the other end falls in defeat....and we score one for God's team. A score is a score on God's kingdom board...for when we do something for the benefit of someone else...he is pleased....no matter how grand or little the accomplished task may be. For it will be to His glory...

FAITH (in Christ) is the ultimate winning tactic in our life. We may fall behind here and there...but God in his perfect timing, will advance us to His final dwelling place....and that is the ultimate goal that we as believers must strive for. We are called to just keep on setting up for a score...we have to run the field (with patience and determination and perseverance) ..and watch out for interference (those unexpected hits that come our way), and steals....(of joy and peace)...and keep our eyes focused on our goal and remember what we have learned from our heavenly coach through his word and the ways of his son Jesus

Dear Lord, Thank you that we do not ever have to go out on the field of life without the support of your heavenly team. We can go out in confidence motivated by faith and trust in the name of your son Jesus....that we will be able to play hard and always be on the winning team. Amen
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
website:
www.cathyjodeit.com
email address: cjodeit@gmail.com
The blog link below has all devotionals from the beginning of the year:

http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/