We are just so thankful that Christ does not measure us by what

In the words of Ben Zobrist, the champion of the diamond and a man of faith, we are given a vision deeper than trophies and victories. He declares, “We are just so thankful that Christ does not measure us by what we do. God is not measuring us by that, He is measuring us by our faith in Christ.” This is not a statement of weakness, nor an excuse to abandon action, but a revelation of divine mercy. For the ways of men are bound to error, but the gaze of God sees beyond deeds and into the heart. Thus, the worth of a soul is not tallied in works alone, but in the presence of faith that endures through trial.

Consider the toil of human striving. In every age, people have sought to prove themselves by labor, by conquest, by acts of renown. Kings built empires, warriors carried banners, and thinkers wrote words into the walls of time. Yet none of these were without flaw; every work bore the stain of imperfection. If judgment were to fall solely on deeds, who among us could stand blameless? Zobrist’s words echo the wisdom of the Scriptures: that grace redeems where effort fails, and that it is the faith in Christ which lifts the weary beyond their human limits.

We may recall the story of Martin Luther, the monk who sought holiness through relentless discipline. He fasted, prayed, and punished his body, striving to earn righteousness by works. Yet peace never came. It was only when he discovered in the writings of Paul that “the just shall live by faith” that his heart was unshackled. His realization sparked a reformation that changed nations, reminding the world that salvation is not purchased by the ledger of deeds, but received through faith in the mercy of God.

Ben Zobrist himself, though a man who achieved the glory of a World Series MVP, understood that even the greatest triumphs fade, and even the most disciplined athlete falters. To rest his worth in baseball alone would be to build upon sand. By anchoring himself in Christ, he proclaims a truth older than empires: that God’s measure is not of home runs or failures, victories or defeats, but of the heart’s trust in His Son.

This wisdom should stir us deeply. For many among us live in fear of not doing enough—fear of failing in work, in family, in life. We compare ourselves endlessly, we strive for recognition, and we measure worth in accomplishments. But here is the liberating truth: God does not weigh us on such scales. Our value is not diminished by failure, nor increased by success. It rests secure in the presence of faith. To believe is to be held, even when our hands are empty.

And yet, this is not a call to sloth. Faith does not dismiss deeds; it transforms them. For when we live in thankfulness, knowing that we are loved not because of what we do but because of who we believe in, then our actions flow not from fear, but from love. Our works become offerings of gratitude, not desperate bids for worth. Thus faith births good deeds, but deeds do not earn faith. This is the paradox of grace, and the beauty of truth.

So let us learn this lesson well: cease measuring yourself against the fleeting standards of men. Cease binding your identity to success or despairing in failure. Instead, root your life in faith, and let that faith guide your steps. Each morning, offer your heart in prayer; each day, act with love not to prove yourself, but to honor the One who has already called you worthy. And when trials come, as they surely will, remember that it is not your perfection that saves you, but Christ’s.

Thus the teaching resounds across time: in the game of life, crowns and trophies will pass away, but faith in Christ endures forever. To live in this truth is to be free—free from fear, free from striving, free to walk in gratitude. Like Zobrist, let us be thankful, not for what we achieve, but for the unshakable mercy of God, who measures us not by what we do, but by the eternal trust of our hearts.