The You Tube video of Team Hoyt is a remarkable picture of the lengths God goes to be with us. In 2 Samuel 9, King David also shows the greatness of God's love for man as he reaches out to the grandson of Saul, Mephibosheth. When David defeated Saul, the grandson was rushed out of danger and was dropped becoming lame in both feet. It was customary to kill all members of the former royal family to prevent insurrection to the new king. You can imagine the years of terror this young man had in hiding from King David. However, years after become the undisputed ruler of Israel, he remembers his promise to his dear friend, Jonathan to care for each others family no matter what had happened between Saul and David. David has this man brought to him and instead of having him executed, he restores his lands, gives him servants to care for the man, and states he will forever eat from the kings table. Table fellowship is important and welcoming someone to the kings table who could do nothing because he was lame in both feet is a remarkable testament of grace.
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped. "This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days. In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage). Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."(TeamHoyt Web page)
Between David and Dick Hoyt, we can draw a picture of God as our heavenly Father. The term Abba from Romans 8 is more like our term, Daddy. It is an intimate word of love, affection, and respect. With God as our ABBA, we see him coming like David to a person who being broken and lame by sin, forgiving the death sentence, and restoring what was once his. We also will forever partake of the KING'S table. We see in Dick Hoyt our God running the distance with us, carrying us because while we may be saved, we are still lame because of the effectiveness of sin in this world.
With God, there is no distance he will not go to find us, care for us, and go with us. What a Great ABBA.
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped. "This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days. In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage). Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."(TeamHoyt Web page)
Between David and Dick Hoyt, we can draw a picture of God as our heavenly Father. The term Abba from Romans 8 is more like our term, Daddy. It is an intimate word of love, affection, and respect. With God as our ABBA, we see him coming like David to a person who being broken and lame by sin, forgiving the death sentence, and restoring what was once his. We also will forever partake of the KING'S table. We see in Dick Hoyt our God running the distance with us, carrying us because while we may be saved, we are still lame because of the effectiveness of sin in this world.
With God, there is no distance he will not go to find us, care for us, and go with us. What a Great ABBA.
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