A Devotional by Pastor Cesar Castellanos
Today’s Bible Verse
“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.”
Isaiah 51:3
A Great Victory
Soccer is one of the most exciting sports to watch. There is nearly always a winning and a losing team and everybody is looking for a result. Even though the fans are among the most passionate in the world, with everyone getting involved and making noise, many times people leave the matches disappointed.
Many years ago, an even more exciting and impressive game was played, the game of life. The home side was led by Jesus with twelve men He had chosen to step out onto the field with Him and fight it out, shoulder to shoulder against the other team. If they lost, it would mean death for all. With the stakes so high, they desperately needed to play to win if they wanted to save their lives and the lives of those they loved.
Despite the game starting off on an even footing, suddenly in the last few minutes of the first half, a goal was scored. The opposing team had bribed one of the twelve to strike a deadly blow to his own team’s Star Player and eliminate Him from the game completely. When this happened, the remaining players were extremely frustrated and sad. Many of them even considered dropping out of the game completely to simply wait for the day of their execution. They were surprised, however, to receive the news that something supernatural had happened: their Star Player had made a miraculous comeback. He returned to once again play on the frontline, leading His team to victory. They were able to leave the field in joy and triumph. What the opposing team expected would become their greatest victory, was actually turned into their greatest defeat.
The interesting thing about the outcome of this match is that the real winners were not the players on the field but rather every spectator routing for the home side. They are the ones who believe in Jesus as the star of the match and accept the challenge of joining the winning team.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
“Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He Has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:14-15)
Something to Think About
The Battle of Waterloo, one of the most famous battles in history, occurred on the mainland of Europe on June 18, 1815. It pitted the French army, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, against the Anglo-German-Dutch forces lead by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian forces commanded by General Gephard Blucher. Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo ended the twelve-year period of wars known as the Napoleonic Wars.
News about the English victory was carried first by a ship that sailed from Europe across the English Channel to England ‘s southern coast. The news was then relayed from the coast by signal flags. When the report was received at the city of Winchester , signalers with flags on top of Winchester Cathedral began to spell out Wellington ‘s defeat of Napoleon to the entire city: “W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n – d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d…” However, before the message could be completed, a heavy fog moved in. The rest of the message was hidden from England…
Based on incomplete information, the citizens of England thought Napoleon had won. That would have been a devastating defeat for England. Gloom filled the nation as the bad news quickly spread everywhere.
But when the mist began to lift, the flags high up on Winchester Cathedral completed the news. The flags spelled out this triumphant message: “W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n – d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d – t-h-e – e-n-e-m-y!
The message of defeat was changed into one of victory! Joy immediately replaced the gloom. All over England people danced in the streets, rejoicing at this great victory over one of the most dangerous enemies the nation had ever faced.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for giving Your life so that I can take part in your victory. Today, I accept the complete sacrifice that You made on the Cross. And, I receive every single one of the benefits that allow me to live a victorious life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Declaration
“God has confirmed that He is by my side to give me victory in everything that I do.”
Today’s Bible Reading
- Old Testament: Numbers 1-2; Psalm 48
- New Testament: Matthew 21:23-32; Romans 1:1-17