This ia a special edition of the blog! The word for this week is "WIN"! (I thought that would be appropriate for this coming week!) It is found only once in the New Testament, in Philippians 3:7-9:
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: KJV
"Win" here is the Greek word "kerdaino". Strong's Concordance says: to gain. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to acquire. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says this: gain advantage, to profit. Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon says: to gain by means of one's activity or investment: to earn, to gain, to make a profit. I like the last one the best because it shows that this involves commitment, determination, work, and a never quit attitude! All of that in THIS verse is for the purpose of gaining the knowledge of Christ, Who He is and then who we are - in Him. It is invaluable, worth everything we have, to be a born again believer in JESUS, filled with His Spirit and walking in obedience to His Word. All things are possible to us if we will simply go hard after knowing Him, refusing to settle for less than ALL that He has provided FOR us! With that same intensity, the Vikings have a choice! WE can win, or we can lose, SO LET'S JUST WIN!
Here is Hillsong with "Running":
"Running"
Ready at the line looking out
Looking out to all that's ahead
When every heart confesses Your name
We're pressing on towards that day
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
Letting go of every mistake
Throwing off the chains of restraint
And all that will remain
A passion for Your name
Burning as we run this race
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We are running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
Every stride is taken in faith
Every step compelled by Your grace
We're taking up our cross
No matter what the cost
We give it all to go Your way
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We are running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
[x2]
Onwards we draw towards Your light
Desperate we seek
To know You more and more
Further we look beyond ourselves
To Your love
To Your love
[x2]
'Cause we are running
We're chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
We're running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
And THIS:Looking out to all that's ahead
When every heart confesses Your name
We're pressing on towards that day
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
Letting go of every mistake
Throwing off the chains of restraint
And all that will remain
A passion for Your name
Burning as we run this race
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We are running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
Every stride is taken in faith
Every step compelled by Your grace
We're taking up our cross
No matter what the cost
We give it all to go Your way
We're never gonna stop
We're never gonna stop
We are running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
[x2]
Onwards we draw towards Your light
Desperate we seek
To know You more and more
Further we look beyond ourselves
To Your love
To Your love
[x2]
'Cause we are running
We're chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
We're running
Chasing after all that You are
We are running
'Cause all that You are
Is all that we want now
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
