Today’s devotional has been written by our friend and Bibles & Baseball teammate, Rob McGuffey. Drawing from his journey as a follower of Christ and the wisdom found in God’s Word, Rob challenges us to strive for more than we may have originally envisioned. He encourages us to set our goals beyond worldly success and to pursue the eternal glory found in Christ.

Swing for the Gates

Hebrews 12: 1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.”

In the world of baseball, players dream of hitting the big home run- that mighty swing that clears the fence and earns a place in the highlight reels. The crowd roars, and the player feels like a champion. But in the life of a Christian, our goal isn’t to hit home runs for earthly glory. Rather, our goal is to swing for the gates of heaven, aiming for the ETERNAL, something far greater than any temporary achievement. Just like a batter focuses on the pitch coming at them, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, the “perfector of our faith.” In baseball, a good batter carefully looks for the right pitch to hit and doesn’t chase after every wild pitch or just aimlessly swing away as hard as they can, hoping to get a hit. No, they focus on getting on base, making solid contact, or driving in the run. Likewise, in our walk with Christ, we aren’t called to aim for grand, flashy successes that seek the praise of others. We’re often called to swing for consistency, living a life of faithful pursuit of God’s will in the small things. Eventually the big opportunity to “hit the home run” comes along after we are faithful to the little things. The temptation can often be to chase the “big wins” of life… the accolades, the recognition, the fame. But God’s kingdom operates differently. He invites us to a life of steady faith, one that doesn’t necessarily rely on grand achievements, but on unwavering obedience to Him. We’re called to run the race set before us with perseverance.

In baseball, there are players who become heroes by getting on base time after time, moving the team forward with each base hit, a bunt, or a stolen base. The Christian life is much the same. It’s not about making one big dramatic moment, but about faithfully following Christ every day. Every act of kindness, every moment spent in prayer, every choice to obey God’s Word, is like swinging for the gates of heaven…. Small but eternally significant.

As you step on the field, remember that your aim is not for the home run of worldly success that will fade away, but it is to swing for the eternal glory. With every action, every decision, you have an opportunity to honor God. The world might not even notice, but God sees every swing you take! So forget the fences and swing for the gates.