The World Series got off to a “hot” start last night in Los Angeles. With Chris Taylor hitting a home run on the first pitch of the game, the Dodgers went on to beat the Houston Astros 3-1.
It was a fairly quick game (dominant pitcher Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 Houston batters), and the talk of the night was all about the heat. At 103 degrees when the first pitch was thrown, it turned out to be the hottest game in World Series history.
Of course, we have to use some interesting heat related metaphors to describe the game and series:
“Kershaw was on fire pitching an incredible performance.”
“Justin Turner has been on a hot streak with consecutive game-deciding home runs in LA.”
“The fans are fired up, and now the heat is on the Astros to win Game 2.”
Evidently, this is going to be a “hot” series – literally and figuratively. Since it won’t be much cooler when the Series moves to Houston, everyone will continue to ask:
How will each team handle the heat?
When they start sweating, how will they respond?
Will we see more home runs because of the heat…or will the rising temperatures drag the players down?
Ultimately, the heat throughout the World Series will reveal a lot about the Astros and Dodgers…and the same is true for us when we feel the heat throughout different “series” in our own lives.
Temperatures can really rise as we face trials at work, at home, or internally. When the heat is turned up, and it seems like we’re walking through fire, our true character and faith are revealed.
God uses the “hot series” [of events] in our lives to purify and refine us. Through the difficulties, we end up learning to trust Him more. The hotter it gets, we realize we can’t surive the heat without wholeheartedly depending on Him.
As followers of Jesus, there is purpose, power, and value in dealing with the heat and fires of life.
1 Peter 1:7 (ERV) explains, “These troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. When your faith is proven to be pure, the result will be praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes.”
As we unpack this today, how will each of us handle the heat in our lives? When we start sweating, how will we respond? Will we see more “home runs” because of the heat…or will the rising temperatures drag us down?
Ultimately, the heat will reveal our faith and show who we truly are. Let’s be encouraged to fully rely on God through the fire, and trust that He’s refining us while it’s hot.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the work You do in my heart when I find myself in life’s heated situations. Please help me place my trust in You. I need to be refined, so that my faith can be proved genuine and pure. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
