UK law is changing. We would like to place cookies on your computer to help us make this website better. We've always done this (it's how websites work!), but the law now says I must ask your permission first. To find out more about the cookies, see the privacy notice.

I accept cookies from this site

UK Registered Charity 1117093
Company Number 5947088

Photo: Martin Bateman

"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."

Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire

Nike

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 At the start of chapter 5 of his letter, John writes: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God”. How do you know if you are a Christian and if you will pass through death into eternal life with God forever? John tells us that the answer is very simple. All you have to do is to believe that Jesus is who he said he is – the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.

It has been one of the sadnesses of the COVID crisis that so many people have died alone in hospital with relatives unable to visit. That must be incredibly hard. BUT we prepare for death throughout our life by believing that Jesus is the Christ and that he will be with us in every crisis, including the last one. What a lovely picture of the defeat of death we read in Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him”.

In sport we talk a lot about victory – and rightly so. I write this the day after an athlete I know set a World Lead, her best for 9 years. I wonder how many training sessions it has taken to get her there. Of course, victory in sport matters.

But coming back to 1 John, John goes further stating that we can overcome the world. How? By believing in Jesus. At times life throws hard things at us but let us go into today knowing that we are winners in life because of Jesus.

Why did I call this devotional “Nike”? Because the Greek word for victory is nikein. If you happen to wear Nike shoes, remember that real and eternal victory is in Christ. Even if you don’t wear Nike you can still believe it.

Weekly sports email

Leave your email address if you wish to receive Stuart's weekly sports email: