ALSO-RANS

"God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)

Let's stick with the Stephen Ames story for a day or two more--though it may be unfair to call it that.

Stephen Ames's story, after all, is not the story of a loner. It is the story of brothers, Stephen and Robert, who is his caddie. Robert has paired with Stephen to represent Trinidad and Tobago, their home country, in the WGC-World Cup. Robert has knocked down the flag at the TPC's seventeenth to win the Caddie Shot competition. Robert, on Sunday, was the man on the champion's bag.

And Robert, it was noted during Sunday's telecast, has said he considers his job quite safe. In Stephen, Robert has the assurance of alliance. In Robert, Stephen has the same.

Yesterday, we reflected on the assurance of salvation we have in Christ. It is a critical distinctive of the Christian faith.

But to those who walk with Christ, of extreme importance as well is the assurance of alliance. Through Christ, God is on our side.

Perhaps nowhere in Scripture is this affirmed as strongly as in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where we are promised that when temptation comes, God is with us. He prevents the weight of temptation from becoming too great. And at the breaking point, He provides a way out.

God can do this because in Christ, we are also-rans. That is, He has set all precedents, and we are "along for the ride."

The ride, as we know, is not always easy. It is fraught with temptation, persecution, tribulation. It is annoying, confusing, relentless. It demands our utmost. Just as it did for Christ.

But it never demands of us what we cannot handle, because God offers us the assurance of alliance. Read it in these compelling passages:

"(Jesus said), 'In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world'" (John 16:33).

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

"For I am convinced that…(nothing) in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

I don't know where you are in your life right now, but I have to tell you--I am feeling a whole lot better myself!

--

Jeff Hopper

March 28, 2006

Copyright 2006 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.