Anyone who plays football knows there is no such thing as an easy victory. The game of football is a shoulder-numbing, head-cracking grind, and progress is only made in fits and starts.
There is no kickoff, however well-played it might be, that can take a team directly to the winner’s spot. Players must endure four full quarters and multiple downs to achieve their victory. There are ups and downs, times each team is ahead, and times each team falls behind.
Yet, when the final victory is achieved, there is no greater feeling than to do our touchdown dance.
1 Peter 4:1-4 tells us of the four quarters we must play in God’s football game before we can dance our spiritual touchdown dance.
1st Quarter of the Game:
In the 1st quarter we must arm ourselves with the mind of Christ. When we shed our dependence on ourselves, and trust totally on Christ, he will gird us with the proper equipment to enable us to successfully tackle and defeat the enemy.
2nd Quarter of the Game:
During the 2nd quarter we must throw off the desires of the flesh. This means our carnal man cannot rule our lives. Our desires for houses, cars, and other worldly pleasures must take second place to the needs of God’s next play. Only then will victory on the field become ours.
3rd Quarter of the Game:
The 3rd quarter is where we face our greatest challenge. We must adhere to God’s game plan. The devil will play dirty, bringing old friends our way, and we will be tempted to skip church or hit that Saturday night hot spot “just for old time’s sake.”
Our successful game plan will come from inside God’s huddle, where prayer will reveal his next play.
4th Quarter of the Game:
Whether we kick, pass, or run interference for one of our Brothers, in the 4th quarter we will face criticism for our choice of plays. When we approach our final touchdown, the enemy will throw insults our way, make fun of us, and question each of God’s calls.
However, when we cross the final goal line, we can hold our arms high. The world will be watching as we show them our victory dance.
God is the preordained victor in the spiritual battle that occurs daily around us. If we allow him to call the plays, he will lead us to a final and complete victory over our enemies.
It is the final touchdown that takes the game, but the victory in Christ is earned a single quarter at a time. In that day of the enemy’s defeat, we will dance with a joy we have never before known.
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