10-2-2023

Good Morning All,

        2 Corinthians 12:9; “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

     A few years back I used to coach baseball.  One year when we were fortunate enough to make it to the state tourney, I got to watch one of the most incredible baseball games I have ever watched.  It was on the last day of a three-day tourney.  Being in the smaller town tourney meant pitching was a premium.  As I watched the game the pitcher started to rub his pitching elbow.  The coach did exactly what he needed to do and that was to bring in a new pitcher.  His team was behind by 5 runs already and he was forced to do “the coach’s twirl.”  This is what a coach does when he needs a pitcher but doesn’t have one left.  You stand on the pitching mound and look at every player on the field and sigh.

    The young man playing second base came in and volunteered to pitch.  Most of the players in the tourney were 15 and 16.  If he was 13, it occurred during the tourney.  His first practice pitch bounced before home plate, but he kept throwing.  He actually struck out two batters and got the other one to ground out.  Over the next three innings, his team scored enough to get back to within one run.  This young man’s pitching, although shaky at times, was good enough.   So going into the last at bat, being down one run, his team came up.

    The first batter flied out but the second one got a hit and stole second.  The next batter hit a single and then stole second on the next pitch.  So, the home team had a runner on third and the winning runner on second and one out.  The next batter struck out.  Then guess who came to bat?  The young second baseman turned pitcher.  When he came to the plate to bat, he was grinning.  I was sitting next to a coach from one of the other teams.  He looked at me and we agreed that this young man wasn’t old enough to know he was supposed to be scared to death.  He swung badly at the first two pitches but on the third one he got a really nice single to left that scored two runs for the victory.  It should have never happened, but it did.  It was amazing to watch.

   How many times have we been afraid to speak up for God?  How many times did we talk our self out of doing God’s will?  God tells us his grace is sufficient for us.  We need to be more like this young man.  His older teammates didn’t want to pitch because they were afraid.  He had no fear, so he succeeded.  God gives us no fear.  We need not fear anything because his grace is sufficient.  It will carry us through.  So, trust God’s Word and have no fear, by doing so we will souls for Christ.  By doing so, we can bring comfort and hope to a world that is in desperate need.  God’s grace is sufficient so boast in it.

Father, often I let fear slow me down.  I let fear stop me from doing your will.  I let fear hold me back; all because I do not trust your grace.  Teach me Lord that your grace is sufficient for me.  Make me bold for you.  Give me courage to be your light and beacon in a dark world. In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret