Skip to main content

Feb 29 2016 – Visiting Team

By February 29, 2016Daily Devotionals

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for this reminder that I am not home yet. Please help me remember to listen carefully for Your encouragement, both in my heart and in Your Word, the Bible. Amen.

Scripture: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3 NIV

In September 2005, the University of Texas Longhorns traveled to Ohio Stadium to play the Ohio State Buckeyes. With 105,565 in attendance, the noise was deafening as cheers roared for the Buckeyes. I imagine that only about 5,000-10,000 were Longhorn fans considering the many miles between Austin, Texas and Columbus, Ohio. Maybe they had a few more fans who made the trip, but they were definitely way outnumbered as the cheers went out for the Buckeyes and the “Boooos” roared out to the Longhorns.
Both teams fought hard but the Longhorns ended up victorious over the home team in Ohio.It got me to thinking about how as Christians, this planet is not our home. Heaven is our home. We are never the home team here. Satan is the “Prince of this world” (John chapters 12, 14, &16), but we know in the end, he will lose big-time. We will reign victorious in heaven with Christ.We should keep this mentality of being the visiting team while we struggle and fight knowing that we will be victorious in Christ, especially when the crowds jeer and sneer at us for not following the culture or crowd. How many times have you felt like the only Christian in a group? How many times have you “gone against the grain?” How many times have you been ridiculed for your beliefs and actions? What about your students? What risks have you seen them take? Are they sometimes bolder than we are as adults?In a crowd of 105, 565 do you think the Texas fans made much noise? Were they afraid to cheer on their team? Probably not, but the players had to listen carefully to hear those who were rooting them on and at the same time block out the Buckeye fans. Who do we listen to? Who roots you on to live your life for Christ and not for a culture? We are not home yet – but we will be victorious. My prayer for you is that you would cheer on one another. Go Team! Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]