Be courageous—the battle is won!: “Deepening the Faith” devotional 21

This installment is part of a regular devotional series, “Deepening the Faith,” written by Gordon faculty and staff for the enrichment of the wider College community.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? —Matthew 6:25 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. —James 1:9 As a college coach, I would love to walk onto the courts one day with the absolute guarantee of victory. Even more satisfying would be an assured triumph in the most important match of the year. Imagine all of the players knowing that a win is certain, walking onto the court with their shoulders back and heads held high, ready to go to battle and claim their promised victory. The freedom these competitors would experience in that moment would have a tremendous impact on the way they competed that day. As followers of Christ we find ourselves in a similar position, fighting the most crucial battle of our lives each day. We wake up knowing that our enemy, Satan, is actively seeking to lead us away from our heavenly Father. In the battle for our souls, Satan has but one eternally effective weapon: death. In an act of pure love, God sent Jesus to die in our place, only to rise again and conquer death for all. Through his grace, our eternal connection to God was restored. This is the good news, the great news: WE’VE ALREADY WON THE BATTLE THROUGH CHRIST! With the blessed assurance of this victory, surely our everyday lives consistently embody this transformational confidence in our eternal future, right? While we may understand the concept of salvation through the resurrection of Jesus, our fallen human nature does not allow us to completely comprehend and apply its meaning to our daily lives. We get lost in the sea of day-to-day struggles, fully tangled in the twists and turns of a creation in need of restoration. Jesus knew well the flaws of humanity, and he challenges us to see the broader picture. Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Every day Christians attempt to navigate a world that seems to be spinning further and further away from its Creator. In Joshua 1:9, and in 14 other biblical references, God directly commands us to approach each day with confidence and courage. Joshua 1:9:“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Those who do not yet know Jesus as their redeemer are left to measure themselves by the standards of this fallen world. Many are utterly consumed by the pursuit of earthly things—food, money, status, belonging—and lack the peace that can only exist through a relationship with the risen Jesus. We are called to be strong and courageous. When we are overcome by our own sinful nature, fear and anxiety begin to rule over our hearts and minds. In these moments we can draw strength by reflecting upon the great victory of our Lord and Savior. We are free to pursue life with joyful confidence, eagerly awaiting the day we will fully taste the fruits of his glorious victory. Until then, may we seek to approach each challenge we face with our shoulders back and head held high, confident in our Savior and free to live lives full of thanks and praise.

Peter Amadon Assistant Athletic Director Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Peter Amadon has served as the head coach to the Gordon Men's Tennis program since 2007 and took over the Women's Tennis program following the fall 2012 season. An alumnus of the College, Pete graduated in 2004 with degrees in political studies and history. He has coached numerous All-CCC honorees and one CCC Senior Scholar-Athlete, has eight times earned the CCC Sportsmanship Award (2007-2014), and has had multiple players achieve spots on the CCC All-Academic Team. Outside of his coaching responsibilities, he serves as both an assistant athletic director and the director of capital projects. Pete is also a member of the Professional Tennis Registry and periodically helps out at the local Bass River Tennis Club by teaching clinics and lessons.