I was just reading through some of the statistical
categories for the NBA. It was triggered by seeing a headline about who the
frontrunners are for the MVP (even though the season is only ¼ of the way
through.) This is something every year that is debated by sports enthusiasts;
each offering opinions on why one is good; usually followed by opinions as to
why someone else’s choice is a bum. How silly fans are... as they tend to
belittle other great players in order to build up their favorites. (Of course it is not just the MVP race being
debated; we also saw Kobe pass MJ on the all-time scoring list… sparking discussions
of who the G.O.A.T. [greatest of all time is].)
Well I won’t waste weekly devotion time to debate the
basketball MVP or G.O.A.T. (even though I
do know the correct answer to the MVP and the G.O.A.T.)… Instead we will look
at life’s G.O.A.T…
All over the world there are religious opinions based
upon religious leaders claiming to have the answers. Throughout the centuries
mankind has expressed its view of God or the gods, and leaders have expressed
their ideas of how to appease God or the gods.
Yet in a very dramatic change, a completely different message came forth
a couple thousand years ago that literally divided time…
The Biblical message of the angel appearing to the
shepherds is a drastic change in religious thought. Instead of a proclamation
of what man must do, the angel proclaimed that God has come to be with us.
(Immanuel = God with us) But this wasn’t a message of God visiting in order to
crush man but instead it is God visiting, in the form of a baby, in order to
bring peace and salvation.
Luke 2 tells us very clearly that the “good news” is the
fact that God has saved the day! The G.O.A.T. is Jesus! He split time! He
played a “perfect game”! He paid for sin on the cross of Calvary and rose again
to offer new life – victory through His finished work.
I don’t care what you think about Kobe, MJ, or LeBron… it
is ultimately what you do with this Jesus that matters! His identity is at the
core of the Christian message. From the announcement to the shepherds that he
is the Savior, the Messiah (Luke 2)… to Him coming to His own and only some
receiving who He is (John 1)… to asking Peter who people say He is… all the way
to Pilate asking who He truly is and dying due to His claim of deity, this is
the core issue to believing in His finished work for salvation!
CHRISTmas is the celebration of the entrance of the Greatest Of All Time into the game of
life. He came as a babe proving He is approachable… not just for an autograph
but to be embraced! How about if we talk more about Him than our sports heroes
during this CHRISTmas season (and beyond)? How about if we don’t just talk
about Him but instead invite people to meet Him… just like the angel did to the
shepherds? Remember it is “good news that shall be to all people!”
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