Spring Training

If you follow Baseball you know that we are in the middle of Spring Training. I have never been to Spring Training so my understanding of that process is limited to what I have heard from those who have attended or those who cover the event for the media. Based on what little I do know I find Spring Training to be a very interesting process.
This is a time when baseball players young and old alike come together to discover if they have what it takes to play baseball at the major league level for the coming year. Rookies or minor leaguers who have been invited to Spring Training show up and give it their best shot hoping to make an impression to the management so they can get called up to the major league team. The old veterans show up with the goal to not lose their job to one of those young guys. They have to show management that they “still have it” and that they are still worth the “big bucks”.
It is interesting to see how some of the old guys come into camp. Some of them are in great shape from working out during the off season. They have worked on strengthening their legs or their arms or their core. Some have worked out with trainers and others have just spent time doing their own thing to get in shape. Then you have players who show up and they are by no means ready to play ball. They might be overweight or they may be recovering from an off season surgery or a nagging injury. Regardless of the shape they are in, everyone is hoping to make the team.
I find it interesting to watch pitchers and especially the young pitchers who are trying to develop a particular pitch which will give them a better shot at making the team or gaining a starting position in the rotation. Some of these young guys will come into a Spring Training game to pitch for two innings and only work on one or two pitches. Pitchers are a special breed in their own right.
As fun as Spring Training is, it does not count for anything other than making the team and getting the team ready to play the regular season 182 games. A player may do really great in Spring Training and they may make the team who takes the field on opening day, but everyone knows that the real test of your readiness to play Major League Baseball comes when your take the field or step into the box or take the mound in a real game. Division leaders and playoff contenders are not determined in the Cactus or Grapefruit Leagues.
Some Christians have spent a great deal of time in “training camp” . You have been to Bible class after class. You have heard sermon after sermon. You attend seminars and workshops at every opportunity. You have been in training for most of your life. The questions for you are this, are you in the game or are you just in training. If you are not ready for the game, then you have to ask yourself, why not? Is there something in your life that is keeping you from moving forward in your commitment? Is there a nagging habit or sin in your life that keeps you “out of the game”? If you are not ready, then get ready. God wants you in the game. The real work of a Christian is out among the people in your community who need to be shown the full measure of God’s love in their life. Ministry and outreach is … well it out there where the people are. So get out there! It is time for all of God’s people to take what they know and share Who they know with others. This is what you have been training for your whole life. Now Go Make a Difference today. Training Camp is over.
Love God. Go Love Others.