Here is a link to the Strength for the Journey talk I did last week
Monday, March 28, 2022
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Sweet Spot Hitting in the Game of Life (Bring both bats)
What do a baseball/softball bat, ping pong paddle, tennis racquet, and golf club have in common? They all have a sweet spot. In baseball or softball, the primary offensive goal is to hit the ball on the bat's sweet spot. That is where the most incredible power occurs over the ball. Liam, my youngest son, chooses to use a wooden bat. Wooden bats are more balanced, but they have a much smaller sweet spot. Sweet spot hits on a wooden bat are fantastic. They go far, and they sound great. However, if you don’t hit the ball on the sweet spot, the ball hardly goes anywhere, leaving your hands with a burning, stinging, and numb sensation.
Another advantage is the batter can see ball marks from each hit. Liam can see where baseballs were hit in his first two years of little league. He can see permanent reminders of his performance. He sees where the ball leaves a stain. He can see when his hits were right on the mark and when they fall short of the sweet spot.
This year, it was time to upgrade to a longer bat. We went to SabreCat bats, and he ordered his new bat. He was excited. It had a new design, and he was able to start fresh. No marks! One of the owners told him that the pros always hit the ball on the sweet spot in batting practice.
Our Christian life is similar. Our goal is Transformation. Romans 12- Do not conform, but be transformed. We strive to clothe ourselves with Christ. We want to be the salt of the earth. Just like baseball and softball players trying to find the sweet spot, we train as Christians, working to find how God can use us the most and how we can have the best impact. However, we shouldn’t confuse the goal of being like Christ or Christian living with the goal of salvation.
Just like Liam’s wooden bat has a small sweet spot, we know that our God is way more significant, more amazing, and perfect than we could ever imagine. Because God is God and He is perfect, our best is not close to good enough. Isaiah 64:6 our very best deeds are like filthy rags. That means the sweet spot is teeny tiny- impossible to find. Sin is falling short of the mark.
The sweet spot is impossible for us to find. Our love for Christ, makes us want to hit the best we can so that we can show others His love, but when it comes to making our relationship right with God, Jesus becomes our designated hitter. When we accept Christ in our hearts, God does not see our dirty bats that show many stains of imperfection. He sees His son with a bat with ball marks perfectly placed on the sweet spot. When God looks at us, He sees Christ in our place. With Christ in our hearts, we never step up to the plate of life alone, and we destroy life’s curveballs because Christ is always victorious.
As we prepare for communion, may we confess our sins. We acknowledge we fall short and we celebrate His forgiveness in our lives.
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