The Lord's Baseball Game

“By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

This coming week (beginning on Oct. 27), Major League Baseball’s “World Series” begins. As you’re watching, enjoy the following parable about the role of grace in our lives, shared by a member of one of my former churches:

“I stood with the Lord one day to observe a baseball game, where the Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. We watched as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was Faith, and who also got a single, because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: ball one! Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

Then the Lord turned and told me he was bringing up his star player: Grace. “He doesn’t look like much!” I said as he stepped up to the plate. In fact, Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw him. Thinking they’d won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. It sailed over the centerfield fence for a home run. The Lord’s team won!

The Lord then asked me if I knew why Love, Faith and Wisdom could get on base but couldn’t win the game. I answered that I didn’t know why. So the Lord explained, ‘If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith, and Wisdom will get you on base, but only my Grace can get you home.’”
[--Shared by Becky Jenkins, Trinity-on-the-Hill UMC, Augusta, GA]

Food for thought for all of us! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!