As sports fans, there’s not much we love more than a Game 7 and a championship on the line. Tonight, with the World Series tied at three games apiece, the Astros and Nationals play in a winner take all matchup.
The Nationals pulled out the win in Game 6, but it included some major controversy in the seventh inning. Trea Turner of the Nationals was called out because of interference. When running straight down the first baseline, he got in the way of the ball being caught by the first baseman.
The call by the umps led to hysteria and outrage because most considered it a bad throw and that Turner didn't do anything wrong. Nationals manager, Dave Martinez, was especially heated by the decision and was ultimately ejected from the game.
While everyone was up in arms about the call, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon was down in the dugout getting ready to hit. Following all the chaos and what many consider an egregious call, Rendon was soon up to bat in the same inning.
When he stepped up to the plate, Rendon hit a two-run homer that extended the Nats lead and helped seal their eventual Game 6 win!
This wild turn of events shows how teams overcome a bad call and have things work out, which leads to the response, "Ball Don't Lie." In many ways, Rendon’s home run made things right for the Nationals after they were wronged by the previous call.
In life, there are times when the call goes against us, we’re wronged by someone, or we’re involved in a controversy. In the midst of these circumstances, we can easily become bitter, seek revenge, or flip out in anger and disgust. We demand justice and our responses aren’t always the best.
However, as followers of Jesus, we must be patient and trust God to work things out. We might only see the chaos and how we’ve been wronged, but He’s “down in the dugout” preparing to come in and hit a home run to make things right. Truth and justice win out and as they say, “Ball Don’t Lie.”
The Bible puts it this way in Romans 12:19; 21 (NLT): "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,' says the Lord. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
1 Peter 2:19-20 (NLT) says, "For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.”
Today, let’s know that God is a redeemer and will bless us and work in our hurt by revealing His power to bring good out of the situations we’ve been wronged.
Let’s remember the words of 1 Peter 3:9 (NLT), "Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I wouldn’t be consumed with bitterness or seek retaliation when I’ve been wronged. Help me trust You to do Your redeeming work in me and through the situation. Please give me Your power to overcome evil by doing good. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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