No minor leagues with Jesus

I went with my little league baseball team to see a Harrisburg Senators game this week. The Senators are the double "A" farm team for the Washington Nationals (which sounds a whole lot better than the Montreal Expos, the previous Major League team of the Senators). Our team went to the game because we won the fundraising contest for our league. One of the high points for our players was going out on the field to stand with the player of their choice during the National Anthem. My son, on the left, and another player chose the centerfielder, Frank Diaz.

Minor League baseball is fun and in some ways, I like it better than the Majors. More players play with their whole heart because they're hoping to get to the Majors and they know it won't be easy. They long for the day the manager calls them into the office to tell them some good news, like Dennis Quaid's coach in "The Rookie" (a great feel-good baseball movie). They want to hear the manager say, "Son, you're moving up to the Big Leagues."

The encouraging news is that there are no minor leaguers with Jesus. He gives every one of His followers gifts that we can begin to use in the big game of life right from day 1. Certainly we can improve "our game" and grow in maturity, but we don't have to wait for the call up from the big leagues. If you are a follower of Christ right now, you are in the big leagues and you make a contribution to Jesus' team every time you give like Jesus gives. We strike out when we live selfishly and get on base when we serve others like He did. Don't sit on the bench. There is room in this game for everyone! Do everything you do with Jesus at the center.

***If you want a little inspiration to swing for the fence with Jesus, trying listening to the song "Home Run" by Geoff Moore.