Psalm 86:11-17 

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,

    that I may walk in your truth;

    give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

¹² I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

    and I will glorify your name forever.

¹³ For great is your steadfast love toward me;

    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

 

¹⁴ O God, the insolent rise up against me;

    a band of ruffians seeks my life,

    and they do not set you before them.

¹⁵ But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me;

    give your strength to your servant;

    save the child of your serving girl.

¹⁷ Show me a sign of your favor,

    so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,

 

Do you know the name Armando Galarraga?

He was a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in 2010. He should be in the record books for baseball for being one of only a few pitchers ever to pitch a perfect game, but he isn’t. 

Amazingly, two were thrown in the month of May in 2010. And then there was the game thrown by Galarraga in June that same year.

Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers was one out away. The ball was hit softly to the first baseman, and Galarraga ran from the pitcher’s mound to cover first base. He caught the throw from the first baseman, touched the base before the runner got there. The runner is out. Right? Perfect game?

Not so fast. The base runner was called safe instead of OUT. A blown call. This is before instant replay in baseball, so the call of the umpire stands. Chalk it up to human error. Now, don’t fret, the next batter was an easy out, and the Tigers beat the Indians 3 to 0. 

BUT this young man’s claim to a perfect game was ruined due to HUMAN error.

After the game, the umpire apologized. After seeing the replay, he knew he had made a mistake. Nonetheless, the play stood as called.

It was ALMOST a perfect game.

How are we doing in our faith journey? Are we almost at a perfect game status in following God with an undivided heart? Or are we almost there, but missing the mark because of “human error?”

An undivided heart. Total. Complete.

But don’t fret. For as I have said before, our relationship is not an “IF – THEN” relationship – IF we love God with an undivided heart, THEN God will love us.

NO.

Our relationship is a “BECAUSE – THEREFORE” relationship. BECAUSE God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and loves us so much he gave his only Son to die and rise, THEREFORE we respond by striving to do that which is pleasing in God’s sight.

Undivided heart. Total. Complete.

How are you doing with that?

The good news is this – God is a God of second chances. God gives us a new day each day to begin as baptized, forgiven children of God.

You might be close to winning a perfect game, and that is great. But know that we all fall short. God still loves us and forgives us.

OR if you are like my softball team in high school that had an ALMOST perfect season (we won ONE game and lost 17), God still loves us and forgives us. 

Batter up – let’s work on our game! 

 

Let us Pray: