Wednesday, March 4, 2015

March 5, 2015

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." John 15:4

One of the big differences between baseball and the Home Run life analogy comes in this area of making the connection at home plate. 

In Major League baseball a batter who connects for a hit 3 times out of ten at bats will be and all-star. And if he does it over the span of his career he will be a candidate for the Hall-of-Fame!

But in the Home Run life, connecting with God three days out of ten will make you a weak Christian!

God doesn't call you to be a hit and miss follower. Jesus made that clear in His teaching expressed in John 15. When you made a faith connection with Christ He expected you and expects you to remain connected to Him.

A branch that disconnects from the vine is unproductive and worthless according to Jesus. Anyone who is familiar with a grape vine knows that is true.

What would happen to a Major League hitter if he went a whole season swinging the bat but never connecting with the ball? How long would he remain in the big leagues?

In the same way, how can you remain unconnected from Christ and still consider yourself a Christian? Claiming you are a Christian doesn't make you one. Being connected to Christ through faith and maintaining that connection through obedience to His Word is what makes you a Christian.

Baseball is a game. Being a Christian is serious business! You might even say it is life or death serious. Not to be overly dramatic you could say it is a matter of eternal life and death.

Many people choose not to play baseball and still have a very productive and meaningful life. But the same is not true with faith. You need a relationship with God through Christ. And the relationship with Christ needs spiritual connection with God and a commitment to remain connected with Him.

As in hitting a baseball so it is in your faith, the more you commit to practicing the more you will connect at home plate.

Are you connected to Christ this morning?

Will you remain in Him?

What will that require of you today?