There was a joke years ago about the Latin American ball players, “baseball
been bery good to me,” and it was very true. But how many had been good for
baseball, or used their celebrity status outside of baseball? During the Viet
Nam War, many ballplayers did USO tours, with pitcher Ron Taylor of the 1969
World Champion Mets becoming a doctor at age 38 after seeing the horrors. But
one All Star, not mentioned much any more, actually ended up giving his life in
service to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. A 12 time All Starr, batting champ
four times, Gold Glove winner 12 times, and hitting over .300 twelve times, and
at his last at bat, unknown at the time, got his 3000th hit. His number 21
retired by the Pirates, the Commissioners Award renamed in his honor, and a new
rule of election into the Hall of Fame introduced after his death. A career
.312 hitter, how many know of or even remember Roberto Clemente? Maybe on the
field us old timers may remember, but do we remember his death, flying to
Nicaragua with supplies for earthquake victims on December 31, 1972? How it
wasn’t his first time giving back, as every winter he had taken supplies and
baseball items to Puerto Rico to the poor and needy. He was the first Latin
American player to win all those awards, but I remember him not as the man who
always beat up on the Mets, which he did, but as a man of character, who gave
from the heart, not in words, and more than from his wallet, that he was a doer
and not just a sayer. Whose character showed when needed, and Mr. Clemente, we
need you-NOW!
My friend Nitro jokes how you can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must
be lead. We love to hear of the testimonies of those like Clemente, but very
view spring to action, pick an excuse, we are all guilty. So many warm pews
every Sunday, maybe grudgingly reach into their credit card to give, getting the
tax deduction of course. But Jesus tells us to not only be hearers of the word,
but doers. He tells us that we have no greater love than to lay down our lives
for our brothers. To love your neighbor as yourself, and then tells us we are
all neighbors. But why are so few doers, but complainers? A young David faced
this, and his prayer in Psalms reveals the answer. Not more classes, more
prayer, more giving, or more religion. He says “grant me a willing spirit,” how
many of us ever pray that one? In Peter we find “he has given us his divine
power for everything we need in life and godliness.” But when we ask, and are
given his spirit, do we act on it? When I decided to get into ministry years
ago, I visited with men who I felt were deep spiritually, only to find them
bankrupt to the spirit. “Raise money, build up a support group,” I was told,and
when I questioned them, as Jesus told his disciples to only take what is in your
pockets and he would provide, I was blown off. Labeled as a rebel, and a
loser. In Christ maybe we need more losers, not more fund raising. But we are
then called to action, few things bother me more than those waiting on God with
their hand outs, when so many needs are right in front of them. Waiting for the
feeling to act, at the right paycheck, the right position, when you could be
acting in faith, you can do what you need to do and God wants you to do. By his
spirit...not ours, but his. By the way, next time you write asking for money,
and sign off “in his service,” who is the his, you or Jesus? Where God guides
he provides, a concept few fully grasp hold on to. David acted, and yes those
who wait upon the Lord shall be blessed, he also knows those who delay. And so
do we.....and your true character is revealed.
So Mr. Clemente we need you, NOW! Or more church all stars to step up and
out of their religious experience and into a spiritual experience. If your
whole Jesus experience has been church, you might have missed the calling. You
can either be in God’s way or in his way, you cannot be both, you cannot expect
glory for your actions and not give God his. It takes the spirit, and your
willingness to trust and obey. It can be simple or you can make it hard, but it
takes you and the spirit. Your actions today will tell us more about Jesus in
your life than all the money given, studies attended, or religious
affiliations.
Some might say Clemente took one for the team, character will do that.
Some may add he was a fool to go and help those he didn’t know. What kind of
fool are you? For Christ or for yourself? To me all his stats add up to
nothing compared to his humanity, what do your achievements add up to? How are
you known, how do you want to be known? In humility Jesus gave, he still works
on his birthday, on the Sabbath, and never sleeps or slumbers. Ask God today to
restore the joy of your salvation to you, to be set free and live in liberty.
When he grants you his spirit do something, knowing he will sustain you. I can
do all things in Christ Jesus who gives me the strength, and nothing without
him. As St. Francis of Assissi once said, “preach the word daily, using words
when necessary.” For God so loved the world he gave.....what are you
giving?
Arrrgh matey...you see, not all Pirates are bad!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com