I got a stark reminder the other day that score is being kept... Tiffany, Ethan, and I had gone to the neighborhood playground and tennis courts for a little recreation. Ethan hovered between the tennis courts and playground while Tiffany and I reminisced about how we used to play tennis several years and many pounds ago. We had fun getting out, stretching our legs, and taking in some fresh air as a family.
After an hour or so of chasing the tennis ball between the two different courts, we decided it was time to head home and have a nice dinner together. It was then that Ethan came to us with a pen and little notepad he had pulled from his pocket. He informed us that he had been keeping score while we played. Wanting to humor my little guy I asked him, "So what was the final tally?" This was his answer:
. Mommy: 2,000,000
. Daddy: 46
Hmmm. It reminds me that persons of faith are always being watched. Like the old saying goes, "You may be the only Bible someone ever reads." The way we live, words we say, things we do, etc. are always being seen, heard, observed, and processed. As much as we might hate to admit it, some folks will determine whether or not the Christian faith is right for them based on the testimonies they hear and/or see from people who profess faith in Jesus.
That can be a scary thought for some--if not all--of us! We are not perfect beings, but place our faith in the ONE who is. Even when we do stupid, shortsighted, thick-headed things, we can hurt our witness. But it also provides us an opportunity to point to the ONE who takes our shortcomings, redeems us, and makes us whole.
Forgiveness is one of the most critical elements of the Christian faith, and thank goodness for it. Without God's forgiveness, we'd be in a world of hurt as people continuously observe our lives and seek to keep score. There will be days when we feel like we're on the wrong side of a 2million to 46 scoreboard, but in the eyes of the Lord, we are all in need of His forgiveness, redemption, and love.
Happy day after Easter and have a wonderful week!
Monday, March 24, 2008
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