Giving your best in your worst

Most of you may be aware of the mysterious victories that Orlando Pirates soccer team always win in the dying seconds of the game when they keep giving their best. The buccaneers have suffered seven years of drought and failure covered by tears shared literally by fans at the matches and mockeries from their rivals, Kaizer Chiefs. This last Saturday when they turned the tables to beat Amakhosi in the last seconds, confirmed that it is actually Pirates’ blessing season as they defended the Carling Black Label cup like they did with the Absa Premier league cup. After enduring the seven years of suffering since 2003, suddenly from 2010, Pirates’ doors were opened to start winning all existing trophies in SA to date; they don’t even have enough room to keep them.

 In the Bible, seven is a number of completion, rest & victory: God worked had to create the earth and rested on the seventh day, Egypt went through seven years of drought (Gen 41), Moses fought seven wars from Egypt to Canaan, even the law in Ex 21:2 states that a slave must be set free on the 7th year, there are even seven barren women whom God blessed in the Bible (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, Michal & Elizabeth)… I can go on and on but my brothers and sisters, this message is to encourage you to keep giving your best and last hope in your worst barren times because on your completion day when God starts blessing you, no one can close the doors that God open for you; you won’t even have enough room to contain your blessings like the Pirates (as per God’s promise in Malachi) .

 

 Mark 12:41-44 NLT Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."
  

Most of the time, we expect to first get rich before we give our best but in my personal experience, more than 90% of the time, God always ask me to give my last money for the petrol or food. God wants you to give your best in your worst. Why? Perhaps because 

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT 10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Brothers and sisters, when you are at your worst that is when you are actually at your best because God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you could have thought or done at your best. His ways are not your ways; they are superior. When it seems like others are getting it all and you are doing everything right year after year but with no results, continue serving God faithfully and giving a sacrifice of praise to God because your seventh year is around the corner. I am writing this, my best message, at my worst in my life but I am holding on to God’s promise!

Habakkuk 2:3 NLT This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.  

Don’t be like the Matthews 25’s five foolish virgins who don’t know how to wait; you must take enough oil of faith to keep that light burning in dark times, gooi some more hope and patience into the lamp!

God understands you even when you want to give up in the last and worst times because He, Jesus, has been through it :

Hebrews 4:15 NLT This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.

Jesus Himself wanted to give up in the worst and last rough time saying “let this cup pass” (Mat 26:39) but He kept His oil of hope and trust in God who can’t allow more than we can bear according to

1 Corinthians 10:13 GNB 13 Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Jesus went through the cross and today He is sitting in the highest place of honour with all power given to Him by Father because He endured. So, rejoice when you endure tough times even though you failed many times before because now you know all these Truths about the victory & glorious future in Christ, so sacrificially continue to give your best in your worst!