Playing Shortstop
Today’s Verse:
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ~Hebrews 4:1
Shortstop is a baseball position that fills in the gap between 2nd and 3rd base. There have been several professional baseball players who have played this position and made great defensive plays by stopping a ball from going into the outfield or being the catalyst for many double plays. This morning, we want to consider the danger of stopping short in our opportunities. We are looking at what happens when we make short stops in our lives.
Be aware of stopping short of the glory of God.
Paul declared in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” There is never enough goodness in any of us and too much sinfulness in all of us. Our sinful nature disables us from being acceptable in the presence of God. When Jesus died for our sins, He made access possible through His shed blood and the satisfaction of God’s righteous demands. After we get saved, the sinful nature is not eradicated. We still sin. That’s why we are told, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus makes possible a continuous entrance into the presence of God. Don’t allow sin to impede your fellowship with the Lord. Make the confessing of your sins a daily discipline and seek to be in fellowship with Him.
Be careful of stopping short of the goodness of God.
The writer of Hebrews compared the believer’s inheritance in Christ to Israel’s entering into the Promised Land. Once we get saved, there is the goodness of God for us to lay hold of. There is learning to claim the promises of God. There are victories to claim. There are prayers that we can see answered. There is much Bible to learn and apply. There is the exercise of faith and experiencing the stretching of our faith as Bible believers did. It is claiming the privileges of spiritual growth and victory. It is realizing that we do not have to stop short when adversity or setbacks come our way. Don’t stop short of God’s goodness! Keep going forward in the walk of faith and realize that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Be careful of stopping short of the grace of God.
Paul reminds us, “The time is short.” God’s grace is what saves us. God’s grace is what strengthens us. God gives us grace with which to serve Him. He gives us more grace when the burdens make us grow weary. However, we must grasp this thought: God’s grace saves us so that we can serve Him! God has an incredible plan for our life. Through His grace, He enables us to do things for Him that we could never do in our own power. We have a lifetime in which to make the most of the opportunities that God places before us. We must labor to enter into that rest. Joshua and the Israelites conquered nations bigger than them. They took possession of a land that flowed with milk and honey. Their testimony was so that the world would know that the God of the universe reigns on high. We must be careful of stopping short of the privileges that God has given to us.
Don’t allow an evil heart of unbelief to keep you from doing all that God would like for you to do. Don’t play shortstop. Keep bearing fruit. Keep walking by faith. Keep asking God to answer prayer. Keep serving the Lord.
Have a faith-mobilized God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 59-63