A priest was encouraging some young footballers on the need to involve Jesus in all they do and trusting Him to help them. Some of them agreed and soon the whole team made a commitment to the Lord. They started going to church and their performance improved. Some of them openly remarked: ‘Men! This ‘Jesus stuff ‘ works you know. See how our record has improved since we made a commitment.’
Not long after that there was a house party to which some of the footballer were invited. Unfortunately some of these footballers let down their guard and soon they were not only drinking alcohol but got drunk and started vandalising the neighbours’ cars. One girl who was sober and knew about their commitment challenged one of the boys about their behaviour to which one replied: ‘I don’t want you to bring the Jesus stuff here, I am not in Church and I don’t want Jesus controlling my life.’ If Jesus is on our side why did we lose our last three marches?’
Lessons
Surely with Jesus we have a winning combination in life. With Him we have eternal life. Regardless of our past we can be forgiven and given a clean slate to start afresh. He puts our sins in His Sea of Forgetfulness and posts a sign: No Fishing! His promise to us is: as high as the heaven is above the earth so great is His love for us and as far as the East is from the West so far has He removed our transgression from us.
He writes our names in His Book of Life.
Jesus is more interested in our character than in our comfort, hence the fact that we know Him intimately does not mean we would not have disappointments, failures or sufferings. God often allows such experience to build us up and make us into what He would like to see. He refines us like gold so that His image would be reflected in us.
We are involved in a spiritual warfare. We have an enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy us. He is the accuser of the brethren who will come and lie to us that ‘if God loves you why did he allow you to go through this or that?’ We need not be ignorant of the enemy’s strategies.
So long as we trust the Lord He will use all we go through to glorify His name. Jesus Himself said ‘In the World you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. For, I have overcome the world.’
Count is all joy when you come into divers temptation…
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James1:2
20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matt13:20-22
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. [ The Church Persecuted and Scattered ] On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.Act8:1
But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.Acts13:50
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?Rom.8:35
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.2Cor.12:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.Rev.2:10
8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.2Cor4:8-9
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2Cor.4:16
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.Job13:15
10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. Job23:10
