Christian Pep Rallies?

II Timothy 3:10-11

When I was a freshman in high school, we were getting beat really bad in a baseball game. Some things transpired, and the assistant coach took over coaching the team. He immediately made some changes and gave us a quick speech. Then, we began to to chip away at the 16-0 lead that the other team had. Hit after hit, run after run, we stayed just ahead of the run rule that would have ended the game early. We were back in the game. In the final inning, as the home team, we did it! We won the game 18-17! True story.

There is just something about watching the underdog come from behind and win. We all love those stories. As Christians, we are never the underdogs because the outcome has already been determined. However, we do go through periods in our lives that come across as if the other team is winning. Then, suddenly something changes and we see the hand of God in all that was going on. We cannot help but cheer (praise) Him for what He has done.

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"But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me."

II Timothy 3:10-11

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Paul tells Timothy, you had watched my life. Like a fan following their favorite team, Timothy had seen the ups and downs of Paul's ministry. He had seen and heard Paul's teachings, the way he lived what he believed, his purpose, faith in God, patience, love, and endurance. Timothy had also seen how Paul had been persecuted and had suffered in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. He had seen Paul endure, but more importantly, He had seen how God had delivered him out of those situations.

It is so awesome to hear a missionary share a story of how people intended them harm or even death, but God stepped in and delivered them. Those kinds of services make even a Baptist want to shout! The purpose should not be to promote the missionary. The purpose should be to glorify God. When we see what God is doing right now in the lives of His children, we should get excited.

However, Paul was not simply telling Timothy this to excite Him. He was reminding Timothy of what God was doing in his (Paul's) life, so that Timothy would be encouraged in his ministry as well. Just as God was with Paul, He would be with Timothy also. It wasn't a pep rally to get Timothy hyped about being a spectator, but to encourage him to stay in the game all the way to the end. He is telling us the same thing also!

Father, sometimes this road seems long and hard. Many times it feels like we are losing. May we be witness to Your work of deliverance in the salvations of others, and how You deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. Most of all, may we trust You that everything we go through is for Your Name to be glorified, and help us to endure to the end.