For by him all things were"); document.writeln("created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or"); document.writeln("dominions or rulers or authorities\'”all things were created through him and for"); document.writeln("him.1
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In 2010, the FIFA World Cup was held in"); document.writeln("Africa for the very first time. Soccer fans all over the world turned their"); document.writeln("sights, and their TV\'s, to watch Africa shine. African soccer players were"); document.writeln("thrilled and honored for the privilege to be playing on their homeland soil"); document.writeln("during this emotional event. Among them was Eyong Enoh, key defensive"); document.writeln("midfielder for the Cameroon national team, known to his teammates as \'The"); document.writeln("Pastor\' due to his discipline and devotedness to God; he never missed an"); document.writeln("opportunity to share his faith with others. In an interview, he shared that in"); document.writeln("Cameroon, people didn\'t think it was possible for a Christian to successfully"); document.writeln("play soccer because of the temptations surrounding the sport. As with any"); document.writeln("sport, there was also the danger of allowing the fame of the career to become"); document.writeln("an idol; an issue that Eyong was facing firsthand. He remembered how God spoke"); document.writeln("to him saying: \'I am going to use you as an example to the world, to be a"); document.writeln("Christian in the world of soccer, but first you must stop worshiping soccer.\'"); document.writeln("It was at this point that Eyong Enoh knew that to truly be a successful"); document.writeln("footballer he needed to realize that he was performing for an audience of one."); document.writeln("God had given him the chance and the gift to use soccer for His glory\'”every"); document.writeln("goal, every win, any attention he received was for God\'s glory alone."); document.writeln("Colossians 1:16 gave him the freedom to say: \'All things were made for Him and"); document.writeln("by Him\'. God had shown Eyong that he would use him to preach the Gospel to many"); document.writeln("people and that He would use soccer as the vehicle.2
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We have all faced some sort of opposition"); document.writeln("when it comes to living out our Christian faith. It\'s easy to feel nervous and"); document.writeln("even fearful when we worry about what others might think or say about us. But"); document.writeln("when we realize that the only opinion that matters is God\'s, we can boldly live"); document.writeln("out our faith for an audience of one.
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Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, Any"); document.writeln("opposition I face on this earth is nothing compared to the humiliation and"); document.writeln("physical pain you bore for me. Give me the strength to be bold for you and for"); document.writeln("your glory alone. In Jesus\' name, Amen.
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1. "); document.writeln("Colossians 1:16 (ESV).
"); document.writeln("2. "); document.writeln("@BallersinGod
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Today\'s Encounter was written by:"); document.writeln("Veronica B.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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