The Winning Goal

Welcome to encouragement now from your friends at Our Daily Bread. The reading for today titled The Winning Goal was written by Kenneth Peterson. On February 5, 2023, Christian Atsu kicked the winning goal for his football team in a match in Turkey.

A star international player, he learned to play the sport as a kid running barefoot in his home country of Ghana. Christian was a believer in Christ. Jesus is the best thing that ever happened in my life, he said. Atsu posted Bible verses on social media, was outspoken about his faith, and put it into action by helping finance a school for orphans. The day after his winning goal, a devastating earthquake shook the city of Antakya, once the biblical city of Antioch. Christian Atsu's apartment building collapsed, and he went to be with his savior. 2,000 years ago, Antioch was the fountainhead of the early church. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. One apostle, Barnabas, said to be a good man full of the Holy Spirit, was instrumental in bringing people to Christ. A great number of people were brought to the Lord. We look to the life of Christian Atsu, not to idolize him, but to see in his example an opportunity. Whatever our circumstance in life, we don't know when God will take us to be with him. We do well to ask ourselves how can we be a Barnabas or a Christian Atsu and showing others the love of Christ.

That, above all, is the winning goal. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Acts chapter 11 verses 19 through 30. Now, those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So, for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and, through the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.

This happened during the reign of Claudius. The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Now let's pray. Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom to embrace each day as a gift, knowing that at any moment you could call us home. May we take every opportunity to spread your boundless love and forgiveness to those around us, shining a light on the path to you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thanks so much for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.