We are all here because we all love to play cricket. This venue is a beautiful place to play it. Today, more than most, is just a day for us to enjoy ourselves, to play in a wonderful surrounding. We have played a few times together now, but never for such a long match, so let’s take our time when batting. Let’s continue to build each other up, each other, as we build this team. We praise each other when things go well and help each encourage each other if they go less well. We play not for ourselves, but each other. We all love each other as team mates. There is nothing that we can do that will mean the team won’t love us any more or any less. If Lewis goes out for 0 or 100, we will love him the same and encourage him the same.
This kind of love we have for each other is the same love that God has for us, a love so strong that he sent Jesus to show us the way to God, to show us just how much he loves us, to save us. John 3:16–17 in the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
So when we play today in the wonderful sun, with the beautiful scenery, just remember that we love you here on this team as you, but that God loves each of you, just as you are.
