In Victory!预览

Preparing Ourselves

10,500 athletes have been selected to answer the call of the Olympics, and this summer, it is in the city of Paris that they will strive to become champions.

Billions of people have been chosen to answer God's call, and all, wherever they may be, have already been declared winners.

Like high-level athletes, those called to sanctification must know what is expected of them. The apostle Paul reminds us that God has been pleased to make known to us the mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:9). Therefore, I urge us, brothers and sisters, not to stumble due to lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) and not to deceive ourselves but to remain sober (1 Peter 5:8). Indeed, being declared a winner does not exempt us from the journey, and the promise of fullness will disappoint us if we think it will disconnect us from the complex realities of life.

We are fighters for truth, all bearers of the eternal flame, and, like athletes, we’re running toward victory. God's call must be taken seriously, and we must prepare for it. If an athlete can submit to the authority of their coach, monitor everything they eat, and establish rigorous training discipline - how much more should we, set apart for the Creator's service, vessels of His glory, heirs of His kingdom, do what it takes to fully live out the promises of the King.

Let us not take lightly the "separation" mentioned in Leviticus 20 so that we may belong to Him. Let us understand that He has ripped us away from our old selves, torn the veil of our sinful prison, uprooted us from our old nature, and paid the price for the inexcusable guilt we all bore. How can we think that such separation will not provoke everything we have been? How can we think that transformation can be gentle when such precious blood has been shed to accomplish it?

Like athletes, let us seriously prepare for a new life. Truth is free, but our allegiance will cost us everything we have. To move forward on the path of the Lord, let us accept to nail to the cross our timidity, our lack of self-confidence, our failures, our resentments, our fears, but also our ego-filled successes, our biased intellects, our selective kindnesses, or even our cultural habits.

Yes, the journey will demand all sacrifices in order to fully clothe ourselves with the royal garments woven "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). In the light of high-level champions, this seven-day devotional will accompany those who walk in victory. Brothers and sisters, let us prepare ourselves.