Championships are great and winning is exhilarating. Fighting for a first place trophy, banner, and title of "Conference Champs" or "State Champs" is exciting. The beginning of the game is when the energy begins to flow and the pace of getting up and down the floor starts being determined. Then the end of the game is when the energy can no longer be contained. It's the make it or break it part of the game.

But..

Don't we as believers win everyday with Jesus as our savior? You see, we emerge victorious from the deepest of valleys and darkest of shadows, but we forget that Jesus is the real prize. So, what if we started seeing Jesus as our own championship trophy? What if we put Him in first place?

How different would we act? How different would we live? How different would our relationship with Christ be? How would we impact the world? Would love overrule our lives? Would his grace flow through us in all we do? Would his joy be shown in a simple smile?

Think of it this way...

Our spiritual lives are like that championship game. The beginning of our spiritual walk (accepting Jesus into our darkened hearts) with God is when God's love starts pouring in. The way we decide to live out his love is being determined. The end of our spiritual walk (death of the physical body) is the final living out the love of Jesus before you get to be with him forever in a whole new place. It's when there should no more love to give because it has all been shown in your actions and words throughout your life. And the championship award? God's words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Winning is exhilarating, but so is Jesus' love.

So, I encourage you to place Jesus first above all. Put him above your phone, girlfriend or boyfriend, grades, appearance, etc... Let him do great things through you this week. Let him touch your heart in a way you never thought was possible. Let him breathe life into you. Let him break your heart of stone. Let him hold you on the days when life is too hard to bear. Let him in and let him win your heart.