2020 Daily Devotion - Day 21
James 1:2-4 RSV
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Lou Gehrig’s nickname in baseball was "Iron Horse", but he was not made of iron; as events late in his career proved. First, doctors x-rayed his hands and discovered seventeen fractures that had healed without Lou stopping for any treatment. His bones were broken; but not his spirit. His 2,130 consecutive games played was a record for 56 years until Cal Ripken Jr. exceeded it in 1995.
His consecutive game streak might have remained a record, if not for the second event proving he was flesh and blood – not iron. Eight games into the 1939 season, he retired because he contracted the degenerative disease which now bears his name. If not for the disease, who knows how many hundreds more games he would have played?
Lou Gehrig was the first American Leaguer to hit four home runs in a game. He holds the record for career grand slams. His jersey, #4, was the first number retired in American professional sports.
In Lou’s youth, a teammate – who was frustrated with Lou’s mistakes costing the team yet another game, encouraged him to quit. He didn’t give up. Good thing he didn’t give up, or there would never been the kind of record he established and the great example of persevering through suffering as he did with ALS.
God is not the author of sickness and death, but He can take bad things and turn them into something good. In these days, the challenges before us can actually strengthen us to learn how to persevere and never give up.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, help us to be people who are steadfast and never give up. Give us the Holy Boldness to keep on going even when we want to quit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Lou Gehrig’s nickname in baseball was "Iron Horse", but he was not made of iron; as events late in his career proved. First, doctors x-rayed his hands and discovered seventeen fractures that had healed without Lou stopping for any treatment. His bones were broken; but not his spirit. His 2,130 consecutive games played was a record for 56 years until Cal Ripken Jr. exceeded it in 1995.
His consecutive game streak might have remained a record, if not for the second event proving he was flesh and blood – not iron. Eight games into the 1939 season, he retired because he contracted the degenerative disease which now bears his name. If not for the disease, who knows how many hundreds more games he would have played?
Lou Gehrig was the first American Leaguer to hit four home runs in a game. He holds the record for career grand slams. His jersey, #4, was the first number retired in American professional sports.
In Lou’s youth, a teammate – who was frustrated with Lou’s mistakes costing the team yet another game, encouraged him to quit. He didn’t give up. Good thing he didn’t give up, or there would never been the kind of record he established and the great example of persevering through suffering as he did with ALS.
God is not the author of sickness and death, but He can take bad things and turn them into something good. In these days, the challenges before us can actually strengthen us to learn how to persevere and never give up.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, help us to be people who are steadfast and never give up. Give us the Holy Boldness to keep on going even when we want to quit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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