I was watching the Green Bay Packers return as Champions from the Super Bowl. They did earn their victory and then I began thinking about places where victory needs to be established in our lives, in the church and in the world.
When Donald Driver went out of the game with a knee injury, at that moment of time, I do not think as he was hit that he “felt” victorious. I do think that he knew that he was a winner even though he was knocked down. When Aaron Rodgers was sacked, he did not feel like a winner, but he knew he was one and kept playing. In fact, their coach assembled the team the night before the game and measured everyone for their winner’s rings. There was no doubt that they would win even as they faced hardship in the battle.
There are principles winner’s learn early on. Behind the scenes and every day, this team put these principles in practice. Because every day they did what champions do, the outcome of the game was certain and the game itself was only a declaration of who this group of people already had become. Many members of the Green Bay Packer’s gave God the glory for their success. I believe that they won because they honored God’s principles for success.
They played as a team. Just because there were players lost to injury did not affect them. They are a team. “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ” (Romans 12:4–5, NIV) The church must learn to stop destroying itself by competing and fighting within itself. There is an enemy that can only be defeated by becoming a team.
They played through the pain. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ” (Romans 8:18, NIV) Too often we quit playing when it hurts. We feel pain in one church and we move on to another. We will never find the glory when we keep quitting because of pain.
They listened to their coaches. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. ” (Hebrews 13:17, NIV) They did the plays they were told. They supported those on the field and in the limelight even when they were not. They understood the wisdom of their leaders. As a church, we cannot grow when we do not honor and obey the leadership God has placed in our lives.
They practiced discipline. All through the years, every one of these players worked hard to become the very best. Each one believed in what they were doing and they paid the price for their success. They spent untold hours in the gym lifting weights to become strong. They kept practicing plays until they worked like a team. They studied their opponent and understood what challenges to expect on game day. They lived a disciplined life. “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ” (Luke 9:23–24, NIV) They sacrificed every day to find their life and their dream. Our disciplines as Christians involve prayer, fasting, Bible study, fellowship, forgiveness, intercession, worship. However, when we look and see a church that is weak, we must begin to practice discipline. I challenge Christian’s to spend an hour each day with God. Read the Word and then obey it! Watch spiritual strength come into your life.
They gave. This team understands giving. The players give to charity. They give to their fans. They understand that without giving back, they have no reason to exist as a team. “Freely you have received, freely give. ” (Matthew 10:8, NIV) As a church, we have received mercy, grace, love, hope and so much more. But we have not learned to give this out to the rest of the world. If we do not learn to freely give, the church cannot win.
I am a winner. I am an overcomer. I am a team player. I am disciplined. My life every day will reflect the choices of God.
I may be knocked down once in a while, but I will rise again and overcome. I am a champion created by God and the victory is certain.
Are you a champion?
