The Little League World Series just finished Sunday as the US took an early lead and then lost it soon afterward to Japan. What I found most amusing about the game was the catcher for Japan. He was suited up in the gear, and because of his size (very small), there probably wasn't any gear available that wouldn't appear too big. It was clear the US boys had been grain fed in their Pennsylvania town (a couple were 5'10" in their 12-year-old bodies), but this Japanese player was small. Consequently, the gear looked awkward.
The gear reminded me of David in 1 Samuel 17. David's been chosen for service to defeat Goliath, and Saul fears the small boy is being set up for a tremendous loss. So, Saul dresses him in his armor. "Then Saul clothes David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, 'I cannot go with these....'"
Picture a boy in a man's armor with the sword dragging the ground. That's what the Japanese catcher looked like. What might fit better? Paul writes of our armor as well. "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Eph 6:10 - 11) Our armor fits more naturally. It's not someone else's armor, but the armor of faith in Christ. We grow in that faith through prayer, being in the Word, taking part in worship, and through our participation in the sacraments. God has sized us up, given us our faith, and given us the means to grow in our faith.
Pray we use our armor daily through prayer, devotion, and through being with others in the faith actively in our church community and the community at-large.
Hope Men's Ministry
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