No Change at the Top

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Romans 8:10 (KJV)

Euro 2016, the festival of football in France, is now underway. And by the time the final is played in Paris on 10 July, an estimated 300 million people will have watched the 51 matches. Football (soccer, for our American friends) is big business.

Here in the United Kingdom, football clubs seem to change their managers as often as most of us change our clothes. (OK, a slight exaggeration for effect, but you probably know what I mean.) There is so much money at stake when it comes to television deals and sponsorship that clubs that fall short with poor results need to do everything they can to perform better and make it into the highest leagues and competitions. Performance is everything. Only the best can make it.

Thankfully, the same cannot be said for the Christian life. While we may strive to conduct our lives in the best way we can, it is not OUR performance that determines whether or not we meet Godly standards. Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Paul knew that, of himself, he couldn’t make the flawless grade of perfection that Godly living entails. He, like us, needed the perfect sacrifice, plus the faultless life, of Christ to be credited to our account. It was and is Christ’s ‘performance’ that counts.

God won’t change our manager—Jesus Christ. There is no need. He knows how to get the result. Being on Jesus Christ’s team, powered by the Holy Spirit, is the only way that any of us will reach our eternal goal.

Prayer
Eternal God, we’re so thankful that Jesus Christ has gone before us and achieved the goal that enables us to have confidence in the final result of our lives. And it is through His name that we thank you.
Amen

Study by Philip Stevens

________________________________________________

About the Author:
Philip Stevens attends the Great Baddow Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God UK (near Chelmsford).

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Great Baddow
United Reformed Church
High Street
Great Baddow
CHELMSFORD CM2 7HH

Meeting Time:
Saturday 1pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Tony Goudie
Phone: 01508-498165
Email: tony_goudie@wcg.org.uk