July 15, 2024

Letter to the church in Philippi (Ch: 3, 14)

I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Dear Readers,

This year’s European Football Championship has just come to an end. The winner is the team from Spain. Congratulations to them for winning the European trophy this year.

Every country, every nation has its soccer heroes. The stamp which I am showing you today commemorates the English soccer legend Duncan Edwards. He was a highly talented football player. Unfortunately, he died in an airplane disaster in 1958 at the age of just 22. The English stamp honors this talented young sportsman.

Very few football players become legends. Not many are honored with a monument or a stamp. At this year's European Football Championship, 24 teams competed against each other. Each team had up to 26 players. More than 600 players were therefore involved. But only one team was able to win the much-desired championship trophy in the end.

The apostle Paul reminds his fellow Christians to fight with all their might. They are to win life in God's glory. They should reach the goal, which is perfect fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to compare this to the European Football Championship. The teams stood on the pitch in front of thousands of spectators. But they weren't boredly kicking the ball back and forth or chatting to the referee over a cup of tea. No, they were fighting! They wanted to put the ball in the net. They wanted to get through to the next round. And if they still lost or were eliminated from the tournament, some of these exhausted fighters lay on the pitch and cried. They had lost and it hurt! Grown men lay on the ground and shed tears!

I have never seen Christians crying at the end of a day because they lost the fight of faith that day. Because they had to say: I didn't do enough good for my fellow human beings today. That hurts me so much! Or: I have forgiven too little again today. That hurts my soul. Or: I didn't pray enough today. That makes me sad. I didn't thank God enough today. I could cry. I didn't trust God enough today. I am so sorry for that. I lost my fight of faith today.

Can you be called such a “faith fighter”? If so, I have some good news for you:

You and I, we have an excellent coach! The Lord Jesus Christ encourages us anew every day! He doesn't kick us off his team. He doesn't show us the red card like the referee. Rather, he mercifully puts his hand on our shoulder and says: Ok, you didn't win today. But go on keep fighting tomorrow! Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow you can passionately do good to other people again. Tomorrow you can forgive a lot again. Because you will have many chances to do so! Tomorrow you can live more gratefully than today and trust me more. 

And rest assured: You will always be on my team. You don't belong on the bench. Tomorrow you will be fighting again in the spot where I have put you. Because you belong into my team for all eternity. Because I love you. Keep going! Keep fighting. You'll get the winner's trophy from me in the end!

I wish you courage for every day with its struggles of faith. Do not give up! Our "coach" Jesus Christ is on our side. He is the best “courage-maker” there is! 

Thank you very much for listening to me. I cordially invite you to the next devotion on August 1. Until then, I wish you God's blessing and protection in spirit, soul and body through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This text was translated using DeepL (free version), edited by R. Jordan