Destined to Reign—Two2Grow, Wednesday, October 20
Destined to Reign—Two2Grow, Wednesday, October 20
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV
I heard the father of a professional swimmer explain how much time their child spends practicing and how little time is actually spent competing. That goes for all sports, of course, but one calculation I saw said that an Olympic swimmer can spend more than two thousand hours practicing for every minute spent competing in the Olympics. Regardless of the exact amount, what this tells us is that a person who is focused on a future event is willing to make great sacrifices and endure hardship now so that they can succeed later.
Paul picks up this theme in today’s scripture. When we realize that our future goal is to reign with Christ in God’s new heaven and earth—which far surpasses competing in the Olympics—this goal will motivate us to go into strict training. We will be willing, like any great athlete, to sacrifice personal comfort, our own tastes, and momentary preferences for the higher cause.
Tell yourself (look in the mirror if you can) and say: “You are called to reign!”
When we truly grasp that we are called to royalty, that our destiny is to share the very throne of Jesus, our future will empower us to resist temptation today. We will be intentional in the way we follow Jesus and strive to resist anything that defiles us and makes us unfit for royal service.
Jesus, thank you for calling me to share your throne. Help me understand this amazing future and practice for it today. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
I heard the father of a professional swimmer explain how much time their child spends practicing and how little time is actually spent competing. That goes for all sports, of course, but one calculation I saw said that an Olympic swimmer can spend more than two thousand hours practicing for every minute spent competing in the Olympics. Regardless of the exact amount, what this tells us is that a person who is focused on a future event is willing to make great sacrifices and endure hardship now so that they can succeed later.
Paul picks up this theme in today’s scripture. When we realize that our future goal is to reign with Christ in God’s new heaven and earth—which far surpasses competing in the Olympics—this goal will motivate us to go into strict training. We will be willing, like any great athlete, to sacrifice personal comfort, our own tastes, and momentary preferences for the higher cause.
Tell yourself (look in the mirror if you can) and say: “You are called to reign!”
When we truly grasp that we are called to royalty, that our destiny is to share the very throne of Jesus, our future will empower us to resist temptation today. We will be intentional in the way we follow Jesus and strive to resist anything that defiles us and makes us unfit for royal service.
Jesus, thank you for calling me to share your throne. Help me understand this amazing future and practice for it today. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD