“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Accepting defeat can be one of the most difficult things to accept. In the last US elections (2020) it is evidently clear that one presidential candidate is not about to concede. For some this is a fierce competitive spirit by an old warrior and, who knows, maybe the courts will eventually overturn the election in his favour. However, there are those who think that in a contest, one should have the grace to accept defeat, where one has lost, and move on, more for the sake of peace.
Some might call refusal to accept defeat being a sour loser. Who has not come across that kid who in a game refuses to concede his team has lost and goes on to blame the referee, almost everybody, but his team or himself. In fact, he throws all kinds of tantrums and makes life unpleasant for everyone seeking to overturn results. Isn’t that being selfish, looking at things only from one’s point of view! One might ask.
How about also those situations in the workplace where one loses a job or a bid, but the first thing is to rush to the courts and fight it out. It could be a legitimate fight and vindication certainly comes, but then, there are also those who just can’t live with a defeat. Their lives now become one long career of proving there are right. The failure to accept defeat has led to wars where one has lost at the polls but must now seek other means even at the cost of human life.
In the Bible we come across situations where for some it was also difficult to accept defeat. Saul took his life rather than have the Philistines ride over him after a fierce battle (1 Samuel 31). When Pharaoh realized he had lost to Moses he sent out his troops in a last ditch effort to defeat him, only for his troops to be capsized in the Red sea (Exodus 14:28).
Failure to accept defeat can come with some devastating consequences. But yet by being gracious in defeat, sometimes we are simply affirming that God is in control. After all, it has often been said, when “God closes one door He opens another!” At times we have the grace to accept defeat simply because we know and trust God has something better for us.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God in heaven, creator of heaven and earth, I pray for the grace to accept even such situations where I appear to lose, for I know you are ever on my side, and I am victorious because you are in control!
Related upcoming events
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
