Honoring God and Your Rival

Why Honor is More Important than Outcome

Hey Rival –

In this devotional, we’ve looked at how Christian athletes compete—with excellence, commitment, and purpose. Every time you step into a match against a Christian who’s competing for the glory of God, you’re going to get their best. Honor is more important than outcome. Believe it or not, that is good news for you, too.

Some people think showing love means going easy on your opponent—but it doesn’t. True Christ-like love shows up when both athletes give their very best. Competing at your highest level honors your opponent. It says they are worthy of your full effort. It honors God because both of you are made in His image. He receives the glory when you both use your gifts to the fullest.

For the Christian athlete, it doesn’t matter what the opponent’s ranking is, what they look like, or how many championships they have won. The rival that stands across from you is a reflection of God's image and is someone loved by God.

In your next competition, try to view your opponent through this lens. Focus on what God says about them rather than their reputation or what others say. Remember what’s true: they are made by God and deeply loved by Him. This truth alone makes them deserving of all you have to give.

Application Questions:

• What stories about your rival do you need to trade for the truth of who they are in Christ?
• How can you remind yourself to love your opponent well in the heat of competition?

Prayer:

"God, we thank You for our rivals. We thank You for who You’ve created them to be and the gifts you’ve given them. Father, help us to compete with honor in mind. Give us the strength and courage to give our opponents our very best as an act of love towards them and towards You. Amen."

Summary

The biblical story of Joseph has applications to the life of an athlete.

Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, had dreams of greatness and leadership as a young man. But his journey had hardships and setbacks. It is like an athlete's injuries or failures. He experienced bad calls and injustice. Despite the trials, Joseph trusted God, maintained his integrity, and continued to persevere.

Over time, Joseph’s faith and perseverance saw a reward. He rose to power and ultimately saved his family and many others from famine. Joseph understood that God was working, even when the path seemed unclear. Through it all, he gave glory to God.

Our prayer is that before, during, and after your competition, you will have a similar perspective. Keep God's word in front of you and focus your eyes on Him!

Next Steps

Athletes in Action has other plans dealing with sports. You can use those plans to also equip you for competition. You can find those plans on the AIA Connection page in the Bible App. Click the "Follow" button to receive notifications of new content.

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