A Hall of Fame of One

Mark 10:44-45 (NIV) ⁴⁴  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

            The rosters for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game were announced yesterday. The players are selected by the fans and each year to play in the mid-season game. Most major sports have some kind of all-star contest. The goal is to feature the best players in the sport at their respective positions. Basketball’s all-star game is a bit of a joke because players don’t really try all that hard to defend against the other team and it ends up being a display of offense that doesn’t mean all that much. Football’s all-star game is also a bit of a joke because players in this more violent sport don’t really want to play hard enough to risk injury. But players in Baseball’s all-star game take it seriously and play hard, because the winner of the game – National League or American League - gains home-field advantage in the World Series for the team that represents its league. Last year the Red Sox were so bad that only one player was selected to represent them in the 2015 All-Star Game. But this year, six members of the team have been selected. For Red Sox fans that is an exciting development. Chicago Cubs fans are also excited because the entire infield (four players) who start the game will be Cubs. This hasn’t happened in baseball since 1963, when the St. Louis Cardinals did the same thing.

            An “all-star” player is supposed to be one who is excelling during that baseball season. He is doing everything well: hitting, fielding, running, throwing, etc. So well, in fact, that people recognize it and vote him in to be a player in the game. The greatest players in Major League history played in multiple all-star games. Actors have their “all-star games” – the Academy, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Musicians have theirs: the Grammy Awards. Even food photographers have their own “Food Photographer of the Year Award”. Some sports and other fields have Hall of Fames that recognize the greatest of their participants.

            The Church has no Hall of Fame. We have only one “all-star” – Jesus Christ – who alone does all things well. All definitions of excellence, greatness, achievement, and glory begin and end with Jesus. There are some folks who like to point to Hebrews 11 and speak of it as God’s Hall of Fame of Faith. And certainly all who are in that chapter pleased God in certain ways at certain times. But only God the Son pleases the Father in all ways at all times. In fact, anything and everything a Christian might do or accomplish is by God’s power and grace. We cannot take credit for greatness or excellence at anything, because all that we are and do is a gift from God.

            So we do well to avoid anything that smacks of the disciples’ recurring desire to find out which among them was the greatest. This is one of the most irrelevant objectives a Christian can pursue. What other people or other Christians think is completely immaterial in one’s walk with Christ. The only view of you or me that matters is God’s view. And God is not impressed by the things that so easily impress people. God notices humility, dependence, a servant heart, and trust that is directed to Him. None of these things ever desire to call attention to themselves. The glory always goes to Jesus… in all things… at all times… in all ways. And that is the way it should be. In Christ alone, my hope is found… He is my light, my strength, my song.

John 3:30 (NIV)  He must become greater; I must become less.

John 3:30 (KJV)  He must increase, but I must decrease.

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (NIV) ⁵  What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ⁷  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

2 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)  But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV) ¹  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV) ¹¹  In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²  in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

PRAYER:  Father, give me eyes to see and ears to hear and a faith that relies upon you so that I may speak and serve in ways that glorify you and express love and care to others. Thanks. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott