Designated Hitter

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  - 2 Corinthians 5:21

In 1973, the American League of Major League Baseball added a new innovation to the game.  Called the “designated hitter,” it is a batter who does not play a position, but instead fills in the batting order for the pitcher.  Pitchers, if you know baseball, are the notorious weak link in any batting order.  Pitchers get paid to pitch, and seem to treat hitting much like they would treat catching a bad cold – something to be avoided.  Pitchers lack of hitting prowess is almost sinful, not because they are so bad, but they almost don’t even try.

The passage above from the apostle Paul is about the original designated hitter.  He was made sin for us (taking on the punishment) so that we could become positionally righteous before God.  What we deserve to receive, because our living prowess is sinful, we do not get.  Instead Jesus took our place in the batting order, “because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses….” (visit Ephesians 2:4-5)

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of the designated hitter in baseball.  And I certainly do not mean to trivialize what Jesus did. But in life, I’m eternally grateful to the original designated hitter.  The One who was made sin…for me.

Be grateful, live well, and play ball!

Listen to "Jesus Messiah" 

Ransom

“…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” - 1 Peter 1:18,19

As I think on this passage, I think about futile ways in which we try to ransom ourselves.  Think about it.  How many of us have tried to ransom ourselves with money.  We think, if only I had enough/more/a lot/, my life would be /better/great/perfect.

Some of us try to ransom ourselves by self-medicating.  Not happy with who and what we are we turn to /alcohol/drugs/co-dependency/to break loose/reward/feel good.

Sometimes we try to ransom ourselves by escape.  This is probably me if I think about it.  I love nothing better than to dive into a good book/movie/computer game to lift myself up from the doldrums/dissatisfaction/boredom of everyday life.

All of these things can be substitute saviors.  The reading from 1 Peter is just an easy reminder; that there nothing we can do, from tradition to self-help that will ransom us.  Frankly the  ransom has already been paid with the “precious blood of Christ.”  The victory over what all has us chained down has been achieved.

What are you in need to being ransomed from today?  Turn it over to the one who bled. For you. The price has already been paid. Trust in what he did to pay it.

Link to "In Christ Alone" 

Always

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice; pray; give thanks.  These things are easy enough.  You know, when things are going good and everyone is happy.  You bet.  I love those times.  You can feel on top of the world, that God is blessing not just your every move, but your every step.  I love it.

And it doesn’t happen that often.  Job, who was one of the most dour Calvinists ever, once said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Visit Job 1:21)

The reality is that life is an odd mixture of ups and downs. We all go through them. Some, like Job, went through more of the downs than most of us, I suppose.  But we all have them.  Still, I am reminded that Job’s statement comes as he is in the process of falling on the ground and worshiping God. (Job 1:20)

Rejoice; pray; give thanks.  Job, ultimately, was. Paul’s note in the passage from 1 Thessalonians is a reminder to people, who may have been living a Job–like episode, that our attitude needs to be that of  rejoice; pray; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Because if we understand and are living within the will of God in Christ Jesus, ultimately the good will happen. Paul says it succinctly in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

All things work together for good…those who love him…according to his purpose.

If you are in his will, no matter what your current circumstances may be, good will prevail. I’ve read the book.  I know who wins.

So.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  And blessed be the name of the Lord.  Always.

Link to "Blessed be the name of the Lord" by Tree63 

Familiarity

"The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt." Psalm 93:1

Sometimes I think we get a little too familiar. I’m reminded of the old axiom, “familiarity breeds contempt.”  Yes I know Jesus is our friend, but he wants to be our savior.  Yes I know Jesus walked this earth as a man, but were told also that he “is at the right hand of God…” (visit Romans 8:34)

I hear criticism of many of the modern worship songs; critics have gone as far as saying they are “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs.   Some are, I suppose.  Indeed, I have heard a few songs that if you didn’t know they were intended for worship, you would think they were straightforward love songs. 

It is indeed a blessing that we can think of our savior in such intimate terms. Most religions (reminding here that Christianity is not a religion, but a faith) are attempts to reach up to some sort of distant and aloof deity through our actions. 

Christianity on the other hand, celebrates the fact that the Lord wants to have a relationship with us and went through to great lengths to make it happen.  His desire is to save us.

Yet.

We need reminding, that the Savior who wants this relationship, is holy and majestic.  Psalm 93:1 tells us he is “robed in majesty,”  meaning we need to see his as being dressed like the holiest of priests, clothed in splendor, wearing strength as his belt.  And maybe not so much dressed as a boyfriend. Maybe.

Yes, he wants familiarity; let our familiarity be drenched in respect and truth.   

"How Great Is Our God" 

Revelation

And one called to another and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! - Isaiah 6:3

I think this is a fine passage to start a day with.  Look around you this morning.  I know it’s easy to concentrate on the negative, especially when you haven’t even had your first cup of coffee, but still. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” True even if you are coffeeless and maybe even adding insult to that by watching the morning news. It’s a fine passage to start the day with.

It is.  It really is.  If you are able to take a breath this morning, give him the glory.  If you are able to look around and see color, give him the glory.  If you are able to lift your head and listen to music, give him the glory. If your cat is begging you to give it a rub on the top of the head (an every morning experience for me), give him the glory.  If you can smell the sweetness of frying bacon (oh yeah, but not every morning), give him the glory.  If you have someone in your life that is willing to share their life with you, including all the ups and downs, give him the glory.  If you have a friend or two that you can share a deep thought with, or a silly joke with, or the baseball score with or…. Give him the glory.

Here is a revelation.

Everything around you is a miracle.  Everything you have is a miracle.  Everything your are is a miracle. You know you don’t even have to be a believer to understand this fact. Frankly if you are not a believer it is even a greater miracle that everything that surrounds you even exists at all.  If you are a believer, however, everything you see and experience is a reflection of fullness of his glory.  If we can see this and understand the implication…then we might just want to break out in song like the seraphim (angel-like beings) and sing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

It is.  Give him the glory!

Link to "Revelation Song"