Week five of the NFL season wraps up tonight and once again, we’ve seen many close games so far, which reminds us that any team can win at any time.

Amazingly, heading into week five, there were 15 teams with a record of 2-2, which was tied for a record.

Mike Florio wrote last week on ProFootballTalk.com, “Everyone is alive. Anyone can make a run. Any team can win any game. It may drive those of us who are supposed to know what’s going to happen crazy, but as a fan, it’s the best kind of season the NFL can have.”

With the Texans’ win yesterday, every team in the NFL has at least one win this season, and week five consisted of ten matchups that finished with a team winning by one score only:

• The Ravens outscored the Bengals by two points, 19-17

• The Eagles won 20-17 over the Cardinals

• The Saints topped the Seahawks 39-32

• The Titans hung on 21-17 against the Commanders

• The Vikings held onto a 29-22 win against the Bears

• The Bucs squeaked out a 21-15 win over the Falcons

• The Texans won 13-6 versus the Jaguars

• The Chargers pulled out a 30-28 victory over the Browns

• The Giants surprised the Packers with a 27-22 win

• The Colts won in overtime, 12-9, at Denver

Every team in the NFL has been given chances to win and regardless of how flawed some teams may be or discredited they are, it’s still possible for them to find a way to win.

Even teams that struggled last year have been given new life this season.  Last year the Jets only won four games, the Jaguars won three games, and the Giants won four during the entire season.

Yesterday, the Giants moved to 4-1, the Jets have won two in a row, and the Jaguars already have two wins.

The NFL has structured its league to give every team an opportunity to win. Even if every team doesn’t take full advantage of it, the NFL desires the whole league to be competitive and for each team to have hope of winning.

The way the NFL makes it possible for every team to have a chance to win can be paralleled to how God designed a way for everyone in this world to have a chance to “win” and be saved.

According to 1 Timothy 2:4-6 (NLT), He “…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) tells us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 

Jesus died and rose again so that everyone (through Him) would have the opportunity to live. He desires anyone and everyone to know Him.

We have all been given chances to win through Jesus and regardless of how flawed we may be or how much others discredit us, victory is still possible for everyone.

There is hope that anyone can experience that victory because He made it available to all of us. “Anyone can make a run” toward Jesus and find new life in Him.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Today, as teams across the league prepare for their next game, knowing “any team can win any game” and no team is too far out of it, let’s remember that Jesus came for everyone and anyone, and nobody is too far gone.

We shouldn’t give up on anyone who doesn’t yet know Jesus because victory is still attainable and hope is always there. Let’s be encouraged by these powerful words from Titus 2:11-14 (NLT):

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for saving someone as flawed as me, for the victory I have in Jesus, and for the life You’ve given me both now and for eternity. Please show me the people You want me to share Your hope and victory with. It’s true that everyone needs You and You’ve made it possible for anyone to know You, so please help me to remember that. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.