In his very first cricket match, a young player on the school team I was coaching got hit with the ball. He was not hurt but was understandably shaken. For the rest of the season, he was afraid of the ball. Match after match, he bravely tried, but he just couldn’t seem to hit the ball.

In our final match we were hopelessly behind, with nothing to cheer about. Then that young man stepped up to take his turn. Thwack! To everyone’s surprise he hit the ball sharply! His teammates went wild! His parents and his teammates’ parents cheered loudly. Even though we were still losing the game, I was jumping up and down! We all loved this kid and cheered him on.

I imagine that the Lord cheers us on in our lives as well. He loves us deeply and desires that we “may be able to comprehend . . . what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge” (Eph. 3:18-19).

Some think of the Lord as unloving and waiting for us to slip up so He can punish us. We have the privilege of telling them of His deep love for them. Imagine their joy when they hear about the God who loves them so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for their sin and who wants to cheer them on!

Author

Randy Kilgore

Topics

Our Daily Bread