The Detroit Lions are getting a lot of press time and national attention this year and I’m excited to say that for the first time in a few decades it’s actually good and optimistic. This team has had a successful season thus far and has really turned their record upside down. Speaking of upside-down, wide receiver Amon-ra St. Brown became an instant icon, executing a celebratory headstand after a touchdown in November against the Green Bay Packers. Since then, the upside-down body of St. Brown balanced on his head has been made into snow sculptures, Christmas ornaments, can be seen on t-shirts, and he’s even made into life-sized cake. Football fans everywhere just can’t get enough of it.
Upside-down. It’s funny that something like football puts a positive spin on a word or idea that typically is associated with a negative context like chaos, disorder, confusion, a situation gone wrong, or a mortgage where your loan balance is more than the house is worth. Ouch, none of the above is appealing. But what is appealing is the magnificent flip that this phrase takes on when looking at the Kingdom of God, because God’s Kingdom doesn't work like the kingdoms of this world do. In fact, the Kingdom of God functions the exact opposite of how we would expect a kingdom to function. God’s Kingdom is a countercultural way of life and filled with power moves; Jesus teaches that there is power in humility, others are first, the weak are strong, enemies are loved, and forgiveness is generously extended. And the source of that power is when God lives and breathes in us. We are powerfully delivered from a dead life. With his Spirit living in us, our bodies will be as alive as Christ's!
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:11
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are able to have success over sin and live victoriously. His power in us is so strong to face whatever the future holds, that we don’t dread or fear the next day. Louder for those in the back, the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead lives in you and me. Jesus' resurrection is God's guarantee to the world that it is Jesus' blood that cleanses from all sin. In Ephesians 1:19-20, Paul writes that the same power that the Father used to raise Jesus from the dead is at work in us. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we have the same upside-down weakness is power, power is weakness, power source.
Upside-down. It’s funny that something like football puts a positive spin on a word or idea that typically is associated with a negative context like chaos, disorder, confusion, a situation gone wrong, or a mortgage where your loan balance is more than the house is worth. Ouch, none of the above is appealing. But what is appealing is the magnificent flip that this phrase takes on when looking at the Kingdom of God, because God’s Kingdom doesn't work like the kingdoms of this world do. In fact, the Kingdom of God functions the exact opposite of how we would expect a kingdom to function. God’s Kingdom is a countercultural way of life and filled with power moves; Jesus teaches that there is power in humility, others are first, the weak are strong, enemies are loved, and forgiveness is generously extended. And the source of that power is when God lives and breathes in us. We are powerfully delivered from a dead life. With his Spirit living in us, our bodies will be as alive as Christ's!
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:11
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are able to have success over sin and live victoriously. His power in us is so strong to face whatever the future holds, that we don’t dread or fear the next day. Louder for those in the back, the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead lives in you and me. Jesus' resurrection is God's guarantee to the world that it is Jesus' blood that cleanses from all sin. In Ephesians 1:19-20, Paul writes that the same power that the Father used to raise Jesus from the dead is at work in us. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we have the same upside-down weakness is power, power is weakness, power source.