I love baseball. I basically knew nothing about baseball until our son played T-Ball at age four and caught the bug. Our daughter played T-Ball on a boys’ team at four because there was not a girls’ team until coach pitch and the rest is history. Our family still watches the Atlanta Braves, the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. We attended home games at several fields of these teams while teaching valuable life lessons. We’ve also been to historical fields such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field for games, too.
One valuable lesson we instilled was to “show up!” Whether game day or practice day, “show up” and do your best. It became quickly obvious to our kids when the team had actually “showed up” for the game or not—when their heart and attitude reflected their desire to win. Their abilities had not changed; their work ethic had. Last week we looked at four life lessons in general. Let’s look at the first part of James 1:12 a bit closer.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
In this passage, James is instructing us to stay the course; to depend on the Hope of the world, Jesus Christ, not ourselves. Trust in the one who gave us life (literally our first breath) and gives us life each day to produce staying power or endurance as we stand the tests life brings.
Like the game of baseball, we will not always win at every life adventure or challenge. We will not always be “on our game.” But, we will win when we follow Christ as our Lord and Savior. Trusting Him and staying the course; persevering under trials; knowing He is right with us. In Deuteronomy 31:8 God told Moses He’d be with him as he led the Israelites out of Egypt; in Joshua 1:9 God told Joshua he would actually be the one to take the Israelites into the Promised Land and that He’d never leave him; in I Chronicles 28:20 David told Solomon to finish the work of the temple and God would never leave him. God’s faithfulness is all throughout Scripture. He is trustworthy.
The bat is in your hand. Will you “show up” to trust God’s plan for your life when you are not sure where He’s leading you? Will you “swing” knowing He goes before you? He’s not asking you for a home run. He’s asking you to trust Him; to follow His plan, not your own.
Until We Meet Again:
1.Read the Scriptures mentioned above for yourself. Read them from your Bible out loud.
2.Put your name in these passages where it says “you” and read them again out loud.
3.Will you trust and follow the same God Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and numerous others trusted and followed? He is available to you and me 24/7. He will “show up” to lead and guide! Where does He want you to “show up?”
