A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture of The Day
June 29, 2021
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30)
By Ed Henderson ( 2015)
Many of the media in sports are astounded by the attention and admiration given to underdogs such as Tim Tebow. They just don’t understand how so many people can love and support someone that is not perfect according to their professional football standards and stats. It’s not just Tim Tebow. People love underdogs period, because they can relate to them better than the super, the great, and the perfect. It gives regular folks like us hope. We are actually living and playing through them vicariously. We are cheering for them. We don’t care if they complete every pass. We just want to see them succeed and win, especially someone with the heart and character of a Tim Tebow.
Did you know that God is the same way? God loves underdogs! You can see it clearly as you study the Bible. For example, read the story of David (1 Samuel 16). God told the Prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and there he would find and anoint the next King of Israel. Jesse was so thrilled and proceeded to bring out seven of his sons one by one to introduce them to Samuel. One by one Samuel said this is not the one. At the end Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. Jesse reluctantly said, well I do have one more son that is the youngest but he is out in the field tending the sheep. Samuel told Jesse to go get him. As soon as Samuel saw David he knew that this was the one and anointed him with oil. David was the underdog of the entire bunch. His own father would not have chosen him, but God did!
All through the scriptures we see certain glimpses of God’s love for underdogs: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:26-27) What does this all mean for us, the non-pro athlete, the non-college grad, the non-whatever. It means that God has leveled the playing field. It means, in the Kingdom of God, He has made a place for you and I to rule and reign as Kings and Priests (Revelation 1:6). It means that He has given you and I equal access to all of His heavenly treasures and gifts. His heart’s desire is for you and I to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). He is rooting for us, as is all the heavenly hosts. We have our own cheerleaders!
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands (cheering for us), let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1, TLB) Stand up, hold your head high, for you have an inheritance that was bought and paid for by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The next time the enemy attempts to discourage you, or remind you of everything you are not, you remind him that you are a child of the Father and whatever belongs to the Father belongs to you. His grace is sufficient for you and I! We are winners, so do not let anyone convince you of anything less. We may be underdogs in the world’s eyes, but God and a very large cloud of witnesses are cheering for us and if God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
(1 Peter 2:9)
