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TODDLER-TO-TEENAGE-TO-THE-BIG-LEAGUES BASEBALL

I GREW UP PLAYING A LOT OF BASEBALL AND RECENTLY I'VE SEEN A FEW FUNNY BASEBALL VIDEOS.

IN ONE VIDEO IT'S BUNCH OF TODDLERS PLAYING BASEBALL (WHICH IS ABSOLUTE CHAOS IN EVERY WAY.)

THIS PARTICULAR VIDEO SHOWS THE FINAL AT-BAT OF A GAME.

ONE OF THE YOUNG KIDS HITS THE BALL.

HE'S THE WINNING RUN.

AS THE BALL IS BEING CHASED AND THROWN ALL AROUND THE DIAMOND, THE KID MAKES IT PAST THIRD BASE AND THEN BEGINS DOING SUMMERSAULTS ALL THE WAY TO HOME BASE.

THIS IS A TENSE, STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE (AND ALSO VERY FUNNY!) BECAUSE THE BASEBALL IS (SLOWLY) MAKING IT CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GETTING HIM OUT.

THIS IS THE KIND OF PLAY YOU WOULD NOT SEE IN TEENAGE BASEBALL (AND CERTAINLY NOT IN BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL!)

THE TODDLERS PLAYING BASEBALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT HOW TO:

  • THROW WELL
  • CATCH WELL
  • RUN WELL
  • BASEBALL EDICATE
  • ETC.

THIS IDEA OF GROWING FROM TODDLER-TO-TEENAGE-TO-THE BIG LEAGUES IN BASEBALL IS THE SAME IDEA OF SANCTIFICATION.

1 PETER 1:2

PETER IS WRITING TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING IN LIGHT OF THE RESURRECTION AND HE SAYS THAT THEY ARE:

  • PILGRIMS
  • GOD'S CHOICEST AND
  • BEING SANCTIFIED BY THE SPIRIT

"2 ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, UNTO OBEDIENCE AND SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: GRACE UNTO YOU, AND PEACE, BE MULTIPLIED."

IN OTHER WORDS, THESE YOUNG CHURCHES ARE SAYING "YES!" TO GOSPEL AND AS A RESULT ARE HAVING TO LEARN TO LIVE IN LIGHT OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. THANKFULLY FOR THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HELPING TO SANCTIFY THEM - HELPING TO GROW UP FROM CHRISTIAN TODDLERS-TO-TEENAGERS-TO-THE-BIG-LEAGUERS.

GROW IN SANCTIFICATION

GODLINESS IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE LEARNED AND TRAINED FOR.

THIS PROCESS OF LEARNING AND TRAINING IS CALLED SANCTIFICATION.

SANCTIFICAITON IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER SOME GLORIOUS, ELEVATED, ECSTATIC WORSHIP EXPERIENCE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN:

  • YOU DECIDE TO HOLD/TAME YOUR TONGUE IN A MOMENT IN WHICH YOU ARE TEMPTED TO SAY SOMTHING CUTTING OR GOSSIPY.
  • YOU DECIDE TO LEAN INTO PATIENCE INTSTEAD HOT-TEMPEREDNESS.
  • YOU DECIDE TO LEAN INTO GENEROSITY AND IN-YOUR-MEANS LIVING (GOOD STEWARDSHIP) INSTEAD TO STINGY-NESS AND IN-DEBT LIVING (NOT GOOD STEWARDSHIP).

IN OTHER WORDS, SANCTIFICATION ISN'T THIS BAM! MOMENT IN WHICH NOW SOMEONE IS SANCTIFIED OR EVEN SOME HYPER-SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

SANCTIFICATION IS THE DAY-TO-DAY LEARNING AND TRANING TO BE LIKE-GOD IN THE WORLD.

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT WE ARE INVITED INTO THIS KIND OF LIFE: THE BE-LIKE-GOD LIFE.