The temperature starts to rise. Flowers begin to bloom. Winter fades into the distant past and Spring begins its pathway onto earth's stage. What a beautiful time of year to watch tree branches bud, hear birds sing, and observe grass emerging from its hibernation in the soil.
Oh yeah, and baseball is back!
What would spring be without baseball, America's past-time? Regardless of your tendency to watch sports or not, baseball is just as popular as March Madness (if not more so). Major league ballplayers, by this time, have already reported to camp in some sunny, beautiful city and finished their prelude to the season. Their practice-games are now behind them.
They experienced what baseball players know as Spring Training. What is it exactly, and why is it so important to players, coaches and fans alike?
During Spring Training, players reconnect with teammates, warm up their arms to throw and work on their rusty swings in the batting cages. Everyone is working hard because they all want playing time; they know they have to be at their best in order to suit up and play in the big leagues. So players study the strategies, they look at stats, and they watch video on how to play better. Trainers take time nursing injuries, helping ball players perform at their peak condition in order to maximize their athletic effectiveness. Fly balls are hit to outfielders, ground balls are hit to infielders, pitchers warm up on the sidelines and coaches take out their pencils to fill scorecards and roster sheets.
Yes, baseball is back. And so are its fans.
Baseball fans love their teams...so much so that they will travel to Florida to watch their teams compete before the season begins during Spring Training. Here fans of all ages can watch players warm up, practice in the cage, and even take time to sign autographs. Fans cheer on their teams, look for new talent and cheer on rookies, hoping that their team will have what it takes to go all the way to the World Series.
In April, Major League Baseball enjoys its first, full month of the regular season. Season ticket holders prepare their schedule around ball games, and families plan trips around weekend match-ups with division rivals. So much is riding on the team's success, especially because the more a team wins, the more people want to come out and watch a successful team play. That's just human nature. And the more people fill the stands, the more money the franchise has to go out and get better, stronger, faster players. The hope is that the more solid and agile a team can be, the better its chances of fulfilling its goal to win a World Series.
And all of these hopes and dreams are birthed during Spring Training.
Likewise, the church is a team that is always preparing for battle. We too put on "the whole armor of God" and use the shield of faith to fight back when the Enemy shoots his fiery arrows in our direction. No, we don't sign contracts and train for World Series ring; we actually play for something more. Instead, we aim for this:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" (Matt. 6:19-21).
We might not have teammates who possess a wicked fastball or can hit 40 home runs in a season, but we all have various spiritual gifts that help the body work together under the leadership and lordship of Christ, the head of the team! He coaches us to victory each day through the power of his Word. This is the sword of the Spirit. When we use the Word, we are defeating the foe and drawing closer to the Day when God will give us an eternal victory forever and ever. Being part of the team of Christ is lifetimes better than calling oneself a World Series champion. After all, what does a championship mean if you don't have Christ as your eternal coach? I am so glad to be a part of a team where we know for sure that although the battle is not done, "...Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heav'n be one."
Since we are always preparing for battle, doesn't Spring Training remind us to assess the ways in which we are growing in Christ? When do you read your Bible? What do you understand about God's will through his Word? Are you seeking him corporately through Sunday School teaching and on Wednesday nights during Bible study? How are you responding to temptation? Do you turn to the Word of God to fight the Enemy's advances or are you attempting to fight back in the flesh? Is there anything about your spiritual practices that need dusting off? We know that the more time we spend practicing our study of God, the more we are prepared to heed God's call and serve where we are called. God has saved us to serve, and we can know our place in God's plan when we ask his Spirit to train us accordingly. Consider this verse from 2 Tim. 3:16-17:
"All Scripture is God-breathedand is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
How do we train in righteousness? Well, we need the righteousness of Christ, and that can only come through faith (See 2 Cor. 5:21). God desires for us to train in him, to grow in him, to learn from him, and to serve him. We need the righteousness of Christ to live out God's purpose and plan for our lives. We are unable to be faithful without the faithfulness of Christ. When the Word chastens, corrects, and encourages, we are equipped to do the work God has called us to do. And when we are trained in the Word, we are prepared to play as a team.
Imagine what would happen if only half a baseball team decided to work out during Spring Training. Would they have enough players to play? Would they be effective in defeating their rival? Would other players have to take on more responsibility? If so, how would that affect the team?
April will bring sun and showers. We will encounter, spiritually, moments of light and moments of darkness. Yet, our Coach has given us the playbook, and we are to study it to be equipped for the good works God already wants us to complete: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:10).
So the next time you watch a baseball game, think about the progress of the players during Spring Training. Like baseball players, we rely on God to bless us with talents and gifts to develop throughout our lives. And when we all work together, being trained by the Spirit in righteousness, we start to look more like our Coach envisioned us to be. Therefore, we must trust in the power of the Holy Spirit in order that we might give our best to God's team; after all, when it comes to serving others, we must practice, practice, practice!
When we all fulfill our roles on the team, we start looking more like Jesus, and victory is at hand.
May God bless our Spring Training at United Baptist Church. Know that we need all of you to make this team a success. And never forget that Jesus, your heavenly Coach, has great plans to use you right where you are. Let's delve deeply into the Word of God, not just for Holy Week but for the whole year through!
Seeking to train others about the Word while seeking to be trained by the Word,
><> Pastor Will <><
John 3:30