LEARNING DAILY

2 Timothy 4: 7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church, honored this Sunday, as Super Bowl Sunday, by giving a message about the characteristics of a champion. Here are the characteristics he gave. I imagine that you will be able to come up with additional thoughts on what characterizes a champion.

The first characteristic is, “I have fought the good fight”.  Are you able to hear the passion in this statement? It is a declaration of Paul doing everything he could for the cause of Christ. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul wrote to Timothy “to fight the good fight of faith”. A champion will inspire others with passion (Audrey’s notes). Pastor Moore said, “God is looking for our passion, for us to be contagious, so others will see it and want to find out more about what living for Jesus is all about.” One does not have to be crazy with this; it is walking the narrow way as best Believers can letting the light of Jesus shine through them.

Audrey wrote in her notes a verse used by Pastor Moore, “never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically”. With this thought, Pastor said believers should hang out with others who are passionate about their walk with Jesus. The conversation naturally goes to what we are most passionate about, where we tend to spend our time (Audrey’s notes). I enjoy talking Bible; sadly, not many conversations go there.

The next characteristic Pastor discussed was, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. It did take me a while to finally say “yes” to the salvation Jesus Christ offered me. Paul persecuted Christians until he met Jesus on a road to Damascus; it took him a while to follow Jesus, too. Pastor Moore stated, “Champions inspire with perseverance.” I’m thinking about the few half marathons I ran with my daughter, Melissa. Thirteen point two miles is a long way to run; it does take perseverance. As believers, all of us know walking the narrow way takes perseverance as well. “We will be known by what and how we finish – not by how we started!’ (Pastor Moore).  Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that is hindering us and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Trust God in all things. Audrey wrote in her notes, “One of the greatest ways Believers (Champions) inspire is with their faith [being consistent] and how they respond to pressure and endure hard times.”

The last thing Pastor mentioned that champions do is inspire with preparation. Champions have a playbook which they learn and use; they follow the plan! Psalm 119:105 states, “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path”. God’s Word tells Believers exactly what to do and how to respond to any scenario (Audrey’s notes). Pastor Moore said, “Trust the wisdom of God’s Word, follow it every day and to live by principle, not by pressure.

The promise to living as a champion is stated by Paul in the writing to Timothy, “Finally, there is laid up for the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” All Believers today who persevere while walking on the narrow way into God’s kingdom will receive a “crown of righteousness” for staying faithful in their walk!