A BELOVED TEAMMATE”—JUST LIKE RHYS HOSKINS!

     Hello, again, I'm Arlen Yoder from the Soulwinnersr.us website. Remember—the angels in heaven rejoice when a loved one or friend gives their heart to Jesus.
     The title of my post today is " 'A BELOVED TEAMMATE'—JUST LIKE RHYS HOSKINS!" It’s about recently watching the Cleveland Guardians play the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia, and the fact that now Rhys Hoskins plays for the Guardians, but he spent the first six years of his career with the Phillies. With an injury to his knee that sidelined him for over a year, the Phillies made a financial decision to go another direction and didn’t re-sign him. He spent some time with the Milwaukee Brewers, but another injury kept them from re-signing him.
     So, the Guardians signed him to a minor league contract this year, but he quickly proved his value and made the major league roster. The TV announcer reported that in Philadelphia, Rhys was “a beloved teammate” and a fan favorite. Rhys Hoskins was never a major star, but when the press interviewed him in his old stomping grounds, many Philadelphia reporters showed up around him, which showed their appreciation for him.
     Tears came to my eyes when the announcer said that Rhys was “a beloved teammate” in Philadelphia. What was it about his statement that touched my heart? I think it’s because I would like to be thought of as 'a beloved teammate' at some point in my life. Maybe the same holds true for you.
     The Bible tells stories of people who might be called ‘beloved teammates’, which shows that desiring to be one is not a bad thing. Here are some examples:

1. David was beloved by Jonathan, and vice versa.
2. John the Apostle was beloved by Jesus. 
3. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were also beloved by Jesus. He showed his love for them by weeping over the death of Lazarus, before He brought Lazarus back to life. It was one of only three times the Bible reported that Jesus wept. 
4. Paul, in a couple of his books, mentioned in his final greetings people that he had grown to love, like in both Ephesians and Colossians, he mentioned Tychicus, a “dearly loved brother”. 
5. Paul called Timothy “my true son in the faith”, a term of endearment.

     I know our value to God doesn’t depend on being ‘beloved’ by others. But I think if we admit it, most of us want to be considered a ‘beloved teammate—just like Rhys Hoskins!'
     See you next time.