Plan de Devocionales Olímpicos: Lucha y TriunfoMuestra

"Tu Pudes Conocer a Dios" Much like an elite athlete, Paul, the writer of these verses, had devoted his life to training. He had put in the hard work and long hours so he could know all of the right religious answers. He had worked with one of the best coaches and had received recognition for his skill. If anyone could be confident because of what he had accomplished, it was Paul.

But just like the accomplishments of the Olympians we’ve met this month, Paul’s accolades are worthless in comparison to his relationship with Jesus. No medal, no award, no achievement can come close to the satisfaction and acceptance that is found in Christ. Next to knowing Christ, Paul writes, things like medals look like garbage. That’s how good a relationship with Jesus is — the most valuable things in our lives can’t even begin to compare!

God loves us and created us to be in a wonderful relationship with Him. But because of our stubbornness, we chose to do things our own way and this relationship with Him was broken. Because of our sin, or our attitudes of active rebellion or passive indifference toward Him, we are separated from God who is perfect and holy.

Apart from Jesus, we are unable to attain true victory. On our own strength, we can never achieve the perfection that is necessary to be right with God. No matter how hard we work, how much we train or how many medals we win, we can’t bridge the gulf that separates us from God on our own; we are deserving of death, spiritual separation from God.

But, God made a way for us to be made perfect and right in His eyes—He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sin and gave His life for us on the cross. But that’s not the end of story; Jesus rose from the grave, triumphing over sin and death!

Because of what Jesus has done on our behalf, we can have a personal relationship with the God of the universe. In faith, we can choose to follow Jesus and experience His love and grace. We can experience triumph over sin as He gives us His strength.

Questions: Do you know God personally, or do you just know about Him? What obstacles prevent you from placing your faith in Jesus today?

Prayer: God, if it’s possible to have a relationship with You, then I want to know You. Help me see what may be keeping me from knowing You personally and experiencing Your love. I don’t want to just believe what other people say is true about You, but I want to know who You really are and follow Your plan for my life.

Much like an elite athlete, Paul, the writer of these verses, had devoted his life to training. He had put in the hard work and long hours so he could know all of the right religious answers. He had worked with one of the best coaches and had received recognition for his skill. If anyone could be confident because of what he had accomplished, it was Paul.

But just like the accomplishments of the Olympians we’ve met this month, Paul’s accolades are worthless in comparison to his relationship with Jesus. No medal, no award, no achievement can come close to the satisfaction and acceptance that is found in Christ. Next to knowing Christ, Paul writes, things like medals look like garbage. That’s how good a relationship with Jesus is — the most valuable things in our lives can’t even begin to compare!

God loves us and created us to be in a wonderful relationship with Him. But because of our stubbornness, we chose to do things our own way and this relationship with Him was broken. Because of our sin, or our attitudes of active rebellion or passive indifference toward Him, we are separated from God who is perfect and holy.

Apart from Jesus, we are unable to attain true victory. On our own strength, we can never achieve the perfection that is necessary to be right with God. No matter how hard we work, how much we train or how many medals we win, we can’t bridge the gulf that separates us from God on our own; we are deserving of death, spiritual separation from God.

But, God made a way for us to be made perfect and right in His eyes—He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sin and gave His life for us on the cross. But that’s not the end of story; Jesus rose from the grave, triumphing over sin and death!

Because of what Jesus has done on our behalf, we can have a personal relationship with the God of the universe. In faith, we can choose to follow Jesus and experience His love and grace. We can experience triumph over sin as He gives us His strength.

Questions: Do you know God personally, or do you just know about Him? What obstacles prevent you from placing your faith in Jesus today?

Prayer: God, if it’s possible to have a relationship with You, then I want to know You. Help me see what may be keeping me from knowing You personally and experiencing Your love. I don’t want to just believe what other people say is true about You, but I want to know who You really are and follow Your plan for my life.Al igual que un atleta de élite, Pablo, el autor de estos versículos, había dedicado su vida a la formación. Se puso a trabajar duro y largas horas para poder saber todas las respuestas religiosas. Había trabajado con uno de los mejores maestros y había recibido el reconocimiento por su habilidad. Si alguien podía estar seguro, por lo que había logrado, era Pablo.

Pero al igual que los logros de los atletas olímpicos que hemos conocido este mes, los reconocimientos de Pablo no tienen ningún valor en comparación con su relación con Jesús. Ni medallas, ni premios, ni ningún logro puede acercarse a la satisfacción y la aceptación que se encuentra en Cristo. Junto a conocer a Cristo, Pablo escribe que las cosas como las medallas se ven como si fueran basura. Eso es lo bueno de una relación con Jesús - las cosas más valiosas en nuestras vidas no pueden ni siquiera comenzar a compararse!

Dios nos ama y nos ha creado para estar en una relación maravillosa con él. Pero debido a nuestra terquedad, optamos por hacer las cosas a nuestra manera y esta relación con él se rompió. A causa de nuestro pecado, o nuestra actitud de rebelión activa o indiferencia pasiva hacia Él, estamos separados de Dios que es perfecto y santo.

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Separados de Jesús, no somos capaces de alcanzar la verdadera victoria. En nuestra propia fuerza, nunca podremos alcanzar la perfección que es necesaria para estar bien con Dios. No importa lo duro que trabajemos, cuánto entrenemos o el número de medallas que ganemos, no podemos cerrar la brecha que nos separa de Dios por nuestra cuenta; somos dignos de muerte, la separación espiritual de Dios.

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Pero , Dios hizo un camino para ser perfeccionados y justos delante de sus ojos, envió a su Hijo, Jesús. Jesús tomó el castigo que merecíamos por nuestro pecado y dio su vida por nosotros en la cruz. Pero ese no es el fin de la historia; Jesús se levantó de la tumba, triunfando sobre el pecado y la muerte.

"Gracias a lo que Jesús ha hecho por nosotros, podemos tener una relación personal con el Dios del universo. En la fe, podemos optar por seguir a Jesús y experimentar su amor y gracia. Podemos experimentar el triunfo sobre el pecado porque Él nos da Su fuerza.

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Preguntas : ¿Conoces a Dios personalmente o solamente has oido sobre El? ¿Qué obstáculos te impiden poner tu fe en Jesús hoy?

Oración: Dios, si es posible tener una relación contigo, entonces yo quiero conocerte. Ayúdame a ver lo que me impide conocerte personalmente y experimentar Tu amor. No quiero simplemente creer lo que otras personas dicen que es cierto acerca de Ti, sino que quiero saber quién eres realmente y seguir tu plan para mi vida.