The United States Women’s National Soccer team made history this past Sunday by defeating the Netherlands 2-0 for the rights to hoist up the well-sought-after World Cup trophy.
Not only did this victory solidify the United States as the most dominant force in Women’s World Cup history (four total wins, including 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019), but also entered the US into a select group of countries who have won back-to-back World Cups.
On the women’s side, Germany did it in 2003 and 2007. On the men’s side, Italy did it in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Now adding the USWNT to that list, only four countries have accomplished the rare feat.
Such an accomplishment doesn’t come easy. It’s hard work to win a World Cup (especially two in a row), and there’s plenty that can go wrong with the tournament only occurring once every four years.
The grind of training for years for a tournament where elimination is statistically likely to be a reality takes daily commitment. Players must ask themselves why they’re doing this…why they’re embracing the grind…and if it’s worth the cost.
In the same way, followers of Jesus ought to be asking themselves the same types of questions: Why am I following Jesus? Is it worth the cost?
To be perfectly frank, following Jesus is of great cost. Jesus makes this clear in Mark 8:34: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me” (NIV).
Living by the Holy Spirit is a daily pursuit and a death to our flesh, so why do we follow Jesus? Why do we follow Him and take up our cross daily when it’s so costly?
The answer is simple. It has to be because we love Him.
Paul touches on this in Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (NIV).
Paul’s statement at the beginning of his letter to the church at Galatia encourages a heart check by all who claim to follow Christ. If our motivation to follow Jesus ventures out of the simple yet profound boundary of genuine love for Him, it’s fleeting and seems to be worthless.
The same goes for the players on the US Women’s World Cup team. They compete, grind, and suffer for the simple love of the game of soccer. The result of victory is well worth the cost.
So, again I ask, why do we follow Jesus given how great the cost? It should be because we love Him and we know Him to be faithful to His promises. Jesus promises the suffering we are called to experience is well worth its cost.
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the Gospel will save it” (Mark 8:36; NIV).
The eternal salvation we receive through the blood of Jesus is worth every ounce of suffering we experience for following Him on earth.
I’m Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you so much for the salvation You offer me through Your death and resurrection. Help me to follow You and suffer for You simply because I love You. Thank you for Your promise of eternal salvation that is well worth the cost of suffering for You on earth. Give me the strength to continue to follow You and the desire to grow in my love for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
