How to Be a Champion for the Lord

05/05/21 – 05/22/21

Champions Play by the Rules

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/18/21

Cheating produces hollow victories, yet people cheat every day in some form or another. They cheat in their jobs, taking shortcuts to get desired results, telling themselves the ends justify the means. People cheat on their families, robbing them of quality time for other selfish ambitions. People cheat in school, foregoing time and energy spent in study in exchange for a quick and easy answer.

But if a person cheats and wins, does he really win? How satisfying is it to reach a goal obtained through cheating? What an empty accomplishment!

Playing by the rules is the only way to play. As believers in the middle of God’s script for our lives, there are no shortcuts to the end. We cannot opt to skip life’s difficulties in favor of a quick road to God’s blessings. We cannot be molded into His image without having our feet held to the fire. It is during these character-building moments that we define what kind of believers we are going to be: those who run when life gets tough or those who are faithful to God no matter how difficult the situation appears.

When the prophet Samuel came to David’s home and anointed him as the next king of Israel, David did not know what trials were ahead, but he trusted God. Even when King Saul pursued him in an effort to kill him, David never attempted to circumvent God’s plan for his life. With a quick stroke of his sword, David could have ended Saul’s life and begun his reign as king of Israel. But David wanted God to be the one who placed him in power.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the example of David’s humility and trust in You. Give me the patience to wait upon Your timing for my life as he did. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).