Winning The Ultimate "Championship Ring"

"Today's Devotion" For February 6, 2006

Read: Philippians 3:12-21; I Thessalonians 4:1-12

WINNING THE ULTIMATE "CHAMPIONSHIP RING"

"Brothers, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13, 14)

Yesterday evening the Pittsburgh Steelers, the American Football Conference champions of professional football (American style) defeated the Seattle Seahawks, the National Football Conference champions of professional football in the Super Bowl in Detroit, Michigan, USA. After a full season of competition, the Steelers are now the "World Champions" of football. At least on Sunday the Steelers were the very best team in professional football. Their hard work and determination paid off - they made fewer mistakes during the game than their opponents, who also had worked hard and were determined. Even the players who never got into a game can claim the title of "Super Bowl Champions" and wear a Super Bowl ring. For the rest of their lives they will always have a claim on the title of a "Super Bowl" champion.

In October of last year, 2005, the Chicago White Sox became the world champions of baseball as the won the World Series of professional baseball in the United States. This coming summer, a brand new world tournament of baseball is going to be held with a number of countries fielding their very best baseball players to win a true "world championship. We also note that there's Little League World Series and a College World Series held in late summer and early fall. And, no matter which "world series" we look at, even the players who never got a chance to play can claim the title of "champion" and wear a World Series ring. For the rest of their lives they will be able to say they were "World Series" champions.

In a world and society consumed with competition, winning becomes an all-important part of daily life. Professional hockey has the Stanley Cup to crown its "world champions" every year. Professional basketball has the NBA championship series every spring to crown its version of basketball's "world champions." College basketball has the NCAA tournaments at at least five levels, as well as the NAIA Divisions I and II tournaments, and the National Invitational Tournament. In every case mentioned above, even the players who don't get into a game can claim the title "champion" for themselves. And each of them receives recognition for the team's win - championship rings, medals, trophies - regardless of their playing time - something that will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Have you noticed something very significant in the descriptions above? Not only do the athletes who played on the field of competition get to claim the title of "world champion" but so do all the other players who never set foot on the field of competition. They're all a part of the team and helped get the team to the point of winning their sport's "world championship." Every human being has a desire to win. Every human being has the desire to be on the winning team, whether it's in athletics, business, economics, education, politics, or school. Being able to call ourselves the "top dog," regardless of whether we were "on the field of play" is a coveted prize, and one which can become an obsession that focuses us on ourselves to the exclusion of others - even to the point of forgetting that it was the "team" that won.

St. Paul's words to the Philippians and Thessalonians are terrific reminders us that there is a "prize" far greater than any "world championship" we might seek on this earth, which we will not, and have not, attained on our own. It, too, is a "prize" - a championship if you will - in which we play supporting roles, for the "playing field" was the Cross on which Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world to obtain, for us, the ultimate prize - the "Ultimate Championship" - the forgiveness of all our sins and the assurance of heaven through faith in Him. Together we rejoice and work to share that same love with others, so they, too, can be a part of God's "team" in Jesus. doesn't require us to be "winners" and "champions" in the eyes of others.

As St. Paul points us to our heavenly prize - the "ultimate championship" - he also encourages us by his example, to continue to press on toward the goal. We are reminded that while we have already, through faith in Jesus and the forgiveness of our sins, attained a portion of the "prize," our work on earth isn't done; God's purpose through us has not yet been fulfilled. Our Lord Jesus Christ has won the ultimate and final victory over Sin, Death, and Satan, yet we are reminded that we are still on this earth and still subject to all the attempts of Sin and Satan to keep us from reaching heaven. St. Paul encourages us to follow his own example is reaching toward the "prize" fully confident it is ours in Jesus. It's not something we've won by ourselves, earned because of our "good looks," or because we're such very good "players." It's a "championship" won by Jesus which is also ours by faith in Him. It's neither earned nor deserved, but it is ours as the dearly beloved, redeemed and restored children of our heavenly Father. Our "citizenship" is in heaven. That's the ultimate " championship ring."

Prayer: Father, I've been known to be quite competitive in my day. In some way, as I've grown older I've lost a bit of that competitive spirit and I'm grateful for it. Too often I've found myself competing with others in areas of life where it would be of greater service to You if I were to be concerned about the "success" of others instead of "winning" for myself. Forgive me, Father, for forgetting that nothing I am or have has been earned or deserved by me, especially Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness with which You have so richly blessed me in Christ. I rejoice, Father, that You have called me by the Gospel into a living relationship with You and that Your Spirit daily guides me to share Your love with others. Thank You for the marvelous gift of Your forgiveness of all my sins in Jesus so that I can lift my eyes to heaven with hope and peace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.