Winning

England just won the world cup!!!! (well, the first match, anyway)

In football (soccer to you Yanks) we rely on individual genius such as Wayne Rooney and Steve Gerrard, but they choose to play as part of a team.

It's the ame in our faith. Jesus has done it all - paid the price, won the victory, lived a perfect life on our behalf, saved us from the penalty for our sins, released us from the Law - you name it, he has done it. But he chooses now to fulfill his purpose through us. He is not ashamed to call us brothers. He also calls us as part of the church "his bride" or "his body". When Christ works in the world today, he does it through us. He uses us to do his work in the world. But even then, we are totally useless at this unless he comes and lives in us and fills us with his spirit. So even when we are doing his work, it is really him working through us.

At the end, when England lifts the world cup to the yelling crowds, every member of the team shares the glory, even if they haven't touched the ball. And at the end of time, when God wraps up the world and calls everyone and everything to account, Jesus will receive the full glory for his triumph but we will be there as part of his team, sharing in his glory, lifting the cup with him.

YEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!