Baseball season is almost upon us. And when we get to this time of the year, I remember my one and only season of organized baseball as a young kid. I was a youngster who had not ever played baseball, and everything was new to me. And I wasn’t very good at all! My cousin loved baseball, and he played on a team in his community and one time we were together, and he was talking about his batting average. I’d heard about batting averages, and I thought “I need to figure out what mine is so far in this first year on the diamond.” I went to my Mom and asked how I would figure out my batting average and my Mom gently looked at me and said “Honey, in order to have a batting average, you have to get a hit first.” And at that moment I realized that my batting average so far was .000. It might have been one for the record books…for the wrong reason! I got to thinking about that. We can figure out all kinds of “averages” in our lives. What if someone asked you what your “church attendance average” was? What would you figure it would come out to so far this year? It is easy to figure out…first, count the number of times you’ve gone to church this year. Second count the number of Sundays so far in this year. Divide the number of Sundays in church by the number of Sundays this year. The result will be a three-digit decimal rounded to the nearest thousandth that will give you your Sunday Attendance batting average. Getting up to go to church can seem hard or even unnecessary. You can always stay in your pajamas and watch any number of weekly church services online. Or do nothing at all. So why bother? Well, when we come to a saving relationship in Jesus Christ, we become a part of the church…literally the “called out” ones. We are called out of our culture and even society, living and believing differently from those who don’t know him. Our time in worship on Sundays is more than just logging “sermon time”. There is something that happens when Christians meet together. Jesus said that when two or more are gathered in my name…I’m there among them. It is an encouragement to see and talk with and even develop friendships with others who are following this Jesus of the Bible. Our time together is a time when we are encouraged and then motivated and in turn motivate others to acts of love and good works. When you came to Christ, you were given a unique “gift-package” that is a piece of the puzzle that makes up the church. You are needed by them…and they are needed by you. Can you make it through this life without a robust church attendance? Sure…but I never am proud of my batting average from my one baseball season. God would love to see you there with others who he calls his children, the gang at church would love to see you too. And I know that it would encourage the heart of your pastor to see you give up those few hours on a Sunday morning and join God’s team in person. Shoot for a great “church batting average!”. See you in church! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (24) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
P.S. FUNNIES...
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (24) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
P.S. FUNNIES...