10-10-2014

Good Morning All,

         Philippians 1:27; “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” 

    With the baseball season coming to a close and the World Series coming up, I have always wondered why they don’t always play all seven games.  The World Series is the best of seven games.  Yet in the last 25 years there have only been five times that they played all seven; why not?  The tickets are bought and paid for, the television time is slotted, why play all seven?

   Now most of you will probably say that when one team has won four games there is really no point in playing.  The champion has been crowned so it is time to go home.  Yet why not watch as the world champions play a couple more games.  You could still see good baseball; you could still watch some of the best ballplayers performing on the playing field; why not play?

    Some would say that there is no reason to play; once the champions had won there is no incentive for them.  What about playing before the world as the world champions; why not prove that you are entitled to the crown and did not get it by a fluke?  Wouldn’t they play for pride in themselves and in their team mates?  Wouldn’t someone who loved the game always give their best effort for the world to see?

    In a lot of ways, you and I are playing the games in the World Series after we won the fourth game.  Imagine that Jesus is the star pitcher and player.  He pitched four complete perfect games and hit a home run every time he batted.  We won all four of the first games and now Jesus looks to us and says,”Go ahead and finish the series.”  That is what we are doing; we are playing to finish off the series as champions of the world.  Our victory is our eternal salvation.  It is won, signed, sealed and delivered.  All we are doing now is finishing out the last three games.  It doesn’t matter how we play or if we even try but why wouldn’t we want to?

   Imagine being a team mate with a player who pitched four perfect games and hit nothing but home runs?  Wouldn’t you want to at least look like you belong on the same team as him?  Wouldn’t you want to be viewed as worthy of being his team mate?  This is what Paul is telling us.  Live a life that is worthy of the gospel.  Live a life that shows you belong on the same team as Jesus.

   We might strike out every time.  We might not do well at all but we should try; we should strive to be the best team mate that we can be; not because we can impact the championship; that is already won.  Rather our goal is to live a life that is worthy of being the world champion alongside of Jesus.

   This is why we do good works, this is why we follow the law and try to live as Jesus wants us to.  It is not to win the championship but to be a good team mate.  Live in a manner worthy of being Jesus’ team mate.

Father, you have made me a member of the team.  Help me to live in a manner that is worthy of this blessing.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret