Message: “Are You On The Winning Team?” from Dr. Rick Mandl

Devotional Manuscript: Are You ON The Winning Team?
Message by Dr. Rick Mandl, Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.

Hey church family, not sure if you’re aware of it or not, but there was a sporting event held last night in Arlington Texas, that affected more than a few people here in Southern California. Of course the event I’m talking about is the appearance of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers appearing in the World Series isn’t by itself big news. This was actually the third time in the past four years that they made an appearance in the World Series. What was different this time, is that this time they won. Which explains the T-shirt I’m wearing.

I actually own quite a bit of Dodger gear. In addition to this T-Shirt, given to me by my daughter Kelcie. I’ve got another T-shirt. . .  (Mookie Betts) – given to me by my daughter Kelcie. I’ve got a Dodger hat. – given to me by my daughter Kelcie. I’ve got a Dodger jacket – given to me by my daughter by Kelcie. I’ve even got a piece of Dodger carry-on luggage that I use when I travel – given to me by my daughter. And I’m sure more than a few other items of Dodger gear that I’ve accumulated throughout the years.

The interesting thing about my collection of Dodger stuff, is that I didn’t purchase any of it. It was all gifted to me by my favorite daughter Kelcie. By the way, please don’t tell her sisters that she’s my favorite daughter, because each of the other two think that they’re my favorite. But Kelcie has given me all this great stuff, the most recent of which, is this 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers World Champions T-Shirt which she went out and purchased last night after the Dodgers won the world series.

She headed out to a sporting goods store that was staying open late last night to sell this stuff in celebration of that victory and she didn’t get home until after 11:00. You might think she was crazy to go out that late at night just to buy stuff to celebrate the Dodgers victory, and I might have been tempted to agree with you, were it not for the fact that she told me that as she was standing in line at that sporting goods store, to buy this shirt, she saw two other folk that she knew from our church, who had gone to that same store to do the same thing.

As I said, she’s given me a lot of Dodger gear through the years, but this is the first time she’s given me a Los Angeles Dodgers World Champions T-Shirt. And I wondered – why is that? And then I realized – oh yeah it’s because this is the first time that our team has won the World Series since Kelcie was born! And I was thinking - Everyone loves a winner And Everyone loves to be part of a winning team. And as followers of Jesus Christ, you and I are on the winning team.

1 John 5:4 (NIV) tells us, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” As Christians, we’re on the winning team. At the cross Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins and he won the victory for us. Because of what he did there, we don’t need to fear death. And the reason is that for the Christian death is not the end of the story. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says it this way, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)

The victory that Jesus Christ won at the cross has implications for this life, and for the next one too. At a time when so many seem so discouraged about so many things, God has given us the privilege of carrying the message to others, that they can join the winning team. And by joining that team they become part of the victory that Jesus won 2,000 years ago, which means that we can look forward to the ultimate victory he promises us, not just here, but in eternity. That’s good news, and it’s meant for sharing. AMEN

Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.

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