Being an immigrant opens a new world to explore and enjoy. There are countless adjustments to life after moving to a new country. Australia is a culture permeated with sport, and it didn't take long after moving to Australia to notice the popular sports are quite different to those I was familiar. Instead of growing up playing baseball, kids play cricket or compete in "Little Athletics" (track and field events). I have never seen gridiron (American football) played in a park, but I have seen plenty of rugby. Australian football (footy) bears no resemblance to any football I knew previously, and netball seems to be more popular than basketball.
There is great personal enrichment available for all who will humbly lay aside what is familiar and be open to new things. I remember hearing a message from Alan Redpath who hailed from Britain when he spoke of the "raw material" Abraham was made of, this flesh which "needed knocking in and knocking about." Before I came to Australia, I didn't know "knocking in" is a cricket reference. Before a English willow cricket bat can be used, it needs to be "knocked in." This process takes many mundane and tiring hours of using a special mallet or ball (these days rollers are used as well) to compress the wood fibres so the bat will not split or crack when the ball is hit. A bat which is properly "knocked in" performs far better as well, the ball springing off the prepared surface almost like a trampoline. I would never have understood this reference unless I had come to Australia and learned about cricket.
What Alan Redpath said is true concerning our lives when we first come to Christ. There is a period of "knocking in" required to maximise our usefulness. But if "knocking in" is a reference to putting away sin, repentance, growing in faith, and walking in obedience, the process of "knocking in" will continue until the LORD calls us home! The process of preparing a cricket bat is time consuming and even tedious at times, but let us remember our justification and sanctification work in us to fulfill God's purposes concerning us. We do not exist for ourselves but for God's sake and His glory. When a batsman scores runs he will be complemented with, "Good knock mate!" May the same be said of us when we run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is the one who expertly wields the bat who receives the glory for a "good knock," and may we be faithful implements in the hand of our Master who brings great increase to His kingdom.
There is great personal enrichment available for all who will humbly lay aside what is familiar and be open to new things. I remember hearing a message from Alan Redpath who hailed from Britain when he spoke of the "raw material" Abraham was made of, this flesh which "needed knocking in and knocking about." Before I came to Australia, I didn't know "knocking in" is a cricket reference. Before a English willow cricket bat can be used, it needs to be "knocked in." This process takes many mundane and tiring hours of using a special mallet or ball (these days rollers are used as well) to compress the wood fibres so the bat will not split or crack when the ball is hit. A bat which is properly "knocked in" performs far better as well, the ball springing off the prepared surface almost like a trampoline. I would never have understood this reference unless I had come to Australia and learned about cricket.
What Alan Redpath said is true concerning our lives when we first come to Christ. There is a period of "knocking in" required to maximise our usefulness. But if "knocking in" is a reference to putting away sin, repentance, growing in faith, and walking in obedience, the process of "knocking in" will continue until the LORD calls us home! The process of preparing a cricket bat is time consuming and even tedious at times, but let us remember our justification and sanctification work in us to fulfill God's purposes concerning us. We do not exist for ourselves but for God's sake and His glory. When a batsman scores runs he will be complemented with, "Good knock mate!" May the same be said of us when we run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is the one who expertly wields the bat who receives the glory for a "good knock," and may we be faithful implements in the hand of our Master who brings great increase to His kingdom.
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