Max Lucado is the author of this book called In the grip of grace(Thomas Nelson, 1996). There are two stories in this book that really stand out for me. Firstly the account of the baseball strike in 1995 where the owners, determined to start the season, threw open the opportunity to almost anyone who knew how to play. He writes about how happy these guys were to be playing and how afterwards they went around thanking everyone. Then he draws a spiritual parallel.
“They were just happy to be on the team. Shouldn’t we be, as well? Aren’t we a lot like these players? If the first four chapters of Romans tell us anything, they tell us we are living a life we don’t deserve. We aren’t good enough to get picked, but look at us, suited up and ready to play! We aren’t skilful enough to make the community softball league, but our names are on the greatest roster of history! Do we deserve to be here? No. But would we trade the privilege? Not for the world. God’s grace has placed us on a dream team beyond imagination.”
The second story that impacted me was in the chapter called, Life Aboard the Fellow-ship. He compares the various Christian groups to life on a ship. Not a cruise ship, a battleship. Aboard the ship “each of us has a different task. Some, concerned with those who are drowning, are snatching people from the water. Others are occupied with the enemy, so they man the cannons of prayer and worship. Still others devote themselves to the crew, feeding and training the crew members.” And so he goes on making spiritual parallels between life aboard a ship and the different emphasis we place on the different aspects of our faith. His point is that we need to accept one another despite our differences and keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3).
Max Lucado is easy to read and conveys his points well. A good read.
Baseball story is good. I think we take being on the team for granted
Baseball story is good. I think we take being on the team for granted
i like the story of the battleship. the power that all of us can have as we accept one another and allow each other to use the gifts God has given us and the impact that that can have on our suroundings. the image of people pulling people out of the sea as they’re drowning is very powerful…
i like the story of the battleship. the power that all of us can have as we accept one another and allow each other to use the gifts God has given us and the impact that that can have on our suroundings. the image of people pulling people out of the sea as they’re drowning is very powerful…
Chapter 16, Life Aboard the Fellow-Ship:
Tells us to Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7 NIV).
We should look at the FRUIT (product), is it good and look at the FAiTH (In whose name is the work done?)
Unity matters to God. The Father does not want his children to squabble. He wants us to keep unity.
Unity begins, not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren’t so perfect ourselves.
Chapter 16, Life Aboard the Fellow-Ship:
Tells us to Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7 NIV).
We should look at the FRUIT (product), is it good and look at the FAiTH (In whose name is the work done?)
Unity matters to God. The Father does not want his children to squabble. He wants us to keep unity.
Unity begins, not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren’t so perfect ourselves.
Thanks for the comments.
Thanks for the comments.