The Recipe to Win

Luke 22:29-30 (ESV) “I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Every one of the 32 teams in the National Football League wants to win the Super Bowl, but each year only one will. Coaches and staffs spend millions trying to determine the winning formula. Every NFL team spends between $119 million and $150 million dollars on players’ salaries alone. They seek the winning strategies, the best equipment, and the most effective training, hoping that the right combination will produce a winning team.

At his last supper with his disciples, Jesus gave them the real recipe of a winning team, and it did not involve multi-million dollar salaries and huge stadiums. In fact, it was the opposite of what they, or any of us, would expect. Yet, the promise of victory was clear in Luke 22:30.

The first ingredient is humility. In Luke 22:25-27, Jesus contrasted secular political leaders who gloried in their power and lorded it over their charges. “Not so with you,” Jesus said. We must serve those in our care for their benefit, not for our own glory.

The second ingredient is staying with Jesus through suffering (Luke 22:28). Many leave when times get tough. Too often our sanitized version of American Christianity seems to promise a trouble free life. Jesus never said following him would remove trouble from our lives. He said the opposite. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The third is returning after failure. Jesus followed this promise with his warning to Peter about his imminent denial. The testing came at Satan’s hands. Jesus knew that Peter would succumb, but that did not mean the end of his effectiveness or hope of ultimately winning. Jesus charged him, “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22: 32) Only once in the history of the NFL has a team with a perfect record won the Super Bowl. Likewise, our goal should be the ultimate victory of finishing with Jesus, even if we have lost a few games on the way. We have to get back on the field, though. Jesus’ grace welcomes us back.

The day will come when the trophies that really matter will be handed out. They will not have a football or a figure on them, but unlike these temporary accolades, they will last forever. There is one with your name on it. Stay humble, hang on to Jesus through the trials, and get back into the game when you stumble so you can claim it.