Wednesday, March 11, 2015

March 12, 2015

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

One of the fundamentals I learned in baseball was when running to the base don’t be watching the ball but focus on the base you are heading to.

Second base is where you learn to win with others.

Second base is evidence that you have won within at first base. First base is the character base.

Second base in baseball is considered scoring position because a runner can make it from second to home plate on a base hit from a team mate. So what happens at second base is crucial!

In the Home Run life second base is critical as well because it is the community base.  No one can score without help from his team mates and second base is where they learn to get along.

So, as you run from first to second what should you be looking at?

You should be looking at imitating God and following the example of Christ.

Jesus was better at second base than anyone else who ever lived. That is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians and told them to imitate Him.

What does God do?

He loves!

How does God love?

He sent!

“God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus was God’s expression of love! We are to follow His example!

How did Jesus love?

He surrendered!

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

He sacrificed!

“He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us”

Home plate is where we connect with God’s love!

Connecting with God at home plate gets you to first here His love shapes your character!

Loving God and growing in that love will get you to second base.

At second base you learn to love like God – self-less, surrendered and sacrificing!

I want to learn to play second base like Jesus!