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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Wednesday, July 30, 2003 "Hang in There" |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, July 30, 2003 By Anne B. Crawford
Text of the day Hebrews 10:19-25
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
The Good Shepherd Softball Team finished up this year on July 12 at our annual post-season softball league tournament. We started the day early at 9 a.m. and played five games during the course of the day. We won our first game, lost the second, and won the third. That let us advance to the play-offs. We won the fourth game, guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, and came at last to our fifth game against Burtonsville Baptist. By the time this game started it was after 5 p.m. and we were getting tired. We hadn’t played Burtonsville Baptist in the regular season but we knew they were one of the top teams in our league. Long about the 5th inning, we were losing and it was getting pretty quiet on the Good Shepherd Team bench. Then, out on the field, one of the Good Shepherd players began to really the team – urging us not to give up. Suddenly, there I was on the bench with my teammates, whooping it up, hollering, cheering on my teammates on the field and carrying on as though we were leading by a landslide!
We did end up losing to Burtonsville 10 to 4, but despite the loss and not being able to advance to the tournament finals, I felt lifted-up. It was good to be part of the team. The rallying cry from one teammate had encouraged and energized us all.
Encouragement – isn’t that a wonderful thing we can do for one another as Christians. We can lift each other up, energize one another, and help each other to hang in there when times are rough. Being a frontline servant can be challenging and draining sometimes. We all need help and encouragement in our daily walk with Jesus. We have a ready resource in our Christian community – not just a chance to come together for worship and praise, but to build one another up as part of the equipping of God’s saints to carry His message to all the world!
So, hang in there – hang on – and don’t forget to give an encouraging word to your fellow servants on the journey. Remember, as well, to seek encouragement from your brothers and sisters in the Christian community when you need help to hang on. We need to be here for each other – to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Let us pray: Lord God, in our daily walk sometimes we get discouraged, we feel beaten down, and we start to lose hope. Help us to remember to turn to one another to both seek and offer encouragement, not just when asked, but as a daily part of our walk with you. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.