February 13, 2023 - NEXT LEVEL

Today is our last day of our trip to Budapest before heading back to the States… for the last 2 days I have been able to teach about the same topic, which I will get to shortly…

There have been many times over the years that I have had talks with athletes about their desires to play at the next level. At times it is an easy talk… when a player has a realistic view of his/her abilities. At other times it is a very difficult because some players have an inflated view of their abilities/athleticism. And it becomes really hard when I have to be honest and tell an athlete that he/she is simply not good enough for the next level…

The bad news of religion is that leaders try to tell people that they can be good enough, or promise to get better, to get to the next level BUT the Scriptures are clear that none of us are, or ever will be, good enough! (Romans 3:23)

I know I share this truth often here, and I hope you never get tired of hearing it… it is not only our means for justification but also our motivation sanctification!

The good news is that the message to Nicodemus (a religious leader)… to the Rich Young Ruler (who had social status)… to the Samaritan woman (who had a shaky nationality and a shaky past)… to the shepherds (who were the lowest class)… was that Christ, the Lord, was born as the Savior… unassuming… approachable… to pay for our forgiveness, give new life and a new identity!

The last couple of weeks I’ve had the joy of sharing this message with folks from all parts of the world… from different social classes… etc. Today, we shared with Ukrainian refugee students… yesterday it was a church that target serving the homeless… the past week it was students at an international Christian school… WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE! WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO HEAR! WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO KNOW!

Getting to the “next level” is all about what He did for us!

Getting to the “next level” is because of His worthiness!

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might me made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)             

Let’s get busy sharing the next level message!!!