A Walk Is As Good As A Hit
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
Watching the highlights last night of the Dodgers recent game I can’t help but think that the game of baseball is the most difficult of all sports. When you think of the definition of success with regard to the game of baseball you come to understand that success is a relative term. The success metrics for which a baseball players’ career are measured by are significantly lower than compared to other sports. In fact, a major league baseball player who gets a hit just 30% of the time throughout his career, that’s 3 hits for every 10 at bats will more than likely than not end up in Cooperstown, baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Think about this for a moment, if a professional baseball player fails to get a hit 7 out of 10 times, not counting base on balls and sacrifices (contact that ends in an out but advances or scores a runner) for his career, that player will most likely be voted as one of the best players of all time! In no other sport, and in much of life, is so much failure rewarded with so much prestige. That is unless you consider the thief on the Cross crucified next to Jesus. A complete and utter failure in life, put to death for his crimes and moments before he breathes his last breath he cries out to God. Jesus, being God who Himself was moments away from His own death (albeit, Jesus was innocent and was dying so that we, like the thief in this story could be forgiven and experience eternal life) responds, “today you will be with Me in paradise.” Using a baseball metaphor, the thief on the cross struck out and scored a home run!
The point is this, God’s definition of success is measured exclusively by our surrender to His will not our personal achievements. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, His instructions were clear, “Not my will but Your will be done” and yet Jesus knew all along we would strike out far more than we would get a hit yet swing away we will knowing “if we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Those of us who place our hope and trust in Jesus will regardless of how many times we may strike out in this life will in the end have our names added to God’s Hall of Faith. So swing for the fences today every chance you get but know too a walk with Jesus is God’s ultimate desire for you…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
I LOVE YOU!
Matthew 6:33
Watching the highlights last night of the Dodgers recent game I can’t help but think that the game of baseball is the most difficult of all sports. When you think of the definition of success with regard to the game of baseball you come to understand that success is a relative term. The success metrics for which a baseball players’ career are measured by are significantly lower than compared to other sports. In fact, a major league baseball player who gets a hit just 30% of the time throughout his career, that’s 3 hits for every 10 at bats will more than likely than not end up in Cooperstown, baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Think about this for a moment, if a professional baseball player fails to get a hit 7 out of 10 times, not counting base on balls and sacrifices (contact that ends in an out but advances or scores a runner) for his career, that player will most likely be voted as one of the best players of all time! In no other sport, and in much of life, is so much failure rewarded with so much prestige. That is unless you consider the thief on the Cross crucified next to Jesus. A complete and utter failure in life, put to death for his crimes and moments before he breathes his last breath he cries out to God. Jesus, being God who Himself was moments away from His own death (albeit, Jesus was innocent and was dying so that we, like the thief in this story could be forgiven and experience eternal life) responds, “today you will be with Me in paradise.” Using a baseball metaphor, the thief on the cross struck out and scored a home run!
The point is this, God’s definition of success is measured exclusively by our surrender to His will not our personal achievements. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, His instructions were clear, “Not my will but Your will be done” and yet Jesus knew all along we would strike out far more than we would get a hit yet swing away we will knowing “if we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Those of us who place our hope and trust in Jesus will regardless of how many times we may strike out in this life will in the end have our names added to God’s Hall of Faith. So swing for the fences today every chance you get but know too a walk with Jesus is God’s ultimate desire for you…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
I LOVE YOU!
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