Finding His Love Devotion # 7 – A Winning Love

Scripture:  “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  – 1 Corinthians 15:57

Examination: The apostle Paul recounts the entire gospel in this chapter. He reiterates that it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that provides salvation for all mankind. He then encourages the believers in Corinth with the truth that we can live victorious lives through the Saviour, and the end result will be our own resurrection to an eternal life with the Lord.

Application: Last night, the 2026 Winter Olympics had its opening ceremonies. Athletes from around the world marched the parade of nations proudly waving their countries’ flags. All of the competitors are hoping to stand on the podium as an Olympic champion, representing their country by being the best in their sport.

In today’s reading, Paul is writing to the believers in the Greek city of Corinth. It is in this land that the Olympics began, and the Greeks could easily relate to the victory of physical competitions. Paul compares our Christian lives to a race and instructs us to run to win. 1 Corinthians 9:24 states, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

In our race, our opponents are quite formidable. Ephesians 6:12 describes the competitors we face, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Our fight is a spiritual contest between Team God and Team Satan, and the ultimate prize is the souls of men.

While our calling is high, we are assured of the victory through the cross of Christ. His crucifixion and glorious resurrection triumphed over sin and death. Colossians 2:15 speaks of Christ, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Through the Lord, we have the power to live the victorious life of which Paul writes, sharing the gospel of Christ to the world and leading others to the saving grace of our Saviour.

As followers of Christ, each of us can be assured that one future day, when we cross the finish line, we will be standing on the podium of faith and be able to say as Job did, “… I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) Let us run to win!

Memory Verse: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”  – Romans 8:37

I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

(from “Victory in Jesus” by E.M. Bartlett)