Thursday, July 1, 2010

Play Ball!!!


Babe Ruth is one of the most famous baseball players in history. I came across a quote of his this morning that I wanted to share with you guys. This baseball legend was quoted as saying, "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." Maybe you used to be in the Word every day. Maybe you spent quality time in prayer when you came to know Jesus. Perhaps you shared your faith on a regular basis. What happened? Is Jesus any less worthy of your fellowship, obedience and worship? Did Jesus change? Nope, the bible says in Hebrews 13 that 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.' The more likely verdict is that you changed in how you regard to Him. You don't value time reading the Living Word of God, the Bible. You don't see the point of praying anymore. You most likely don't share your faith because, being out of fellowship, you don't feel equipped or worthy to like you may have before. What's even worse is that maybe you are a stony ground hearer as found in Matthew 13. Verses 20-21 explain, 'The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.' Sticking with a baseball theme, below is a scoreboard and how this would look in Babe Ruth's world.

____________ 1__2__3__4__5__6__7__8__9____Final
Good Soil _____ 1__1___1__1___1__1___1___1__1______9
Stoney Grounds_ 8__0__0__0___0__ 0___0___0__0_____8

As you can see, the stony ground hearer described in Matthew jumps out to a great early lead but falls away and in the end and loses the game. The person who's seed fell on good soil played a solid, consistent game and come out victorious. I want you guys to think about which one you are. Did you come to Jesus because He saved you from an eternity in Hell in spite of your sins? Or did you come to Jesus for wonderful plans and promises of a better game(life) and when that didn't happen you stopped going up to bat? Have you forsaken your first love like Jesus said to the church in Revelation chapter 2? Was He ever your first love to begin with? If that's the case and you are not truly grateful to Jesus and you don't love Jesus today like the first day you believed, today I want you to think about why Jesus died. We broke God's Law and He paid our fine. Repent and Trust in Him alone for salvation today. Don't rest on a great first inning or even John 3:16 and then call it quits. Get in the game. Get back in the Word. Pray. Witness. Return to your first love so you never have to hear, "Depart from Me, I never knew you." That would be the ultimate strike out.

Revelation 2:4 (New International Version)

4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

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