The NBA Finals are all tied up at two games a piece with Game 5 taking place in San Franciso tonight. So far in this series, we have seen both the Celtics and the Warriors each win on the road. The Warriors are coming off a critical win at TD Garden in Boston as Steph Curry led the Warriors to a 107-97 Game 4 win with 43 points. The Warriors have now won a road game in 27 straight playoff series, an NBA record that began over nine years ago. They have 39 road wins during that stretch and Friday night’s win was a memorable one, especially with Curry’s performance. (He became only the 5th guard to have at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in a Finals game.) As the Associated Press wrote, “But the moment couldn’t have been bigger, and Curry delivered, all those years of winning road games at playoff time on enemy hardwood preparing him for this ultimate moment.” It’s always nice when a team has the home-court advantage and can comfortably win at home, but the truth is, NBA champions know they need to win on the road. Although it’s very difficult to do, teams must be able to enter into hostile environments and win on their opponent’s floor and in front of the fans who are rooting against them. Boston fans are intense, loud, sometimes vulgar, and passionate, yet the Warriors overcame their negative chants and attempt to distract them. The crowd may have tried to be loud enough so the Warriors would miss shots or not be able to hear their head coach, Steve Kerr, but his players knew what he wanted and they executed. The Warriors showed they could stand firm and find a victory even though they were the away team in enemy territory. Although they couldn't stop the Celtics fans from saying what they were going to say against them, the Warriors proved once again they have what it takes to win on the road. As followers of Jesus, we too are looking to get wins on the road. We know this world isn't our ultimate home. Our time on earth is temporary and we're always up against the opposing crowd. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:11 (NLT), “Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” That means every day we are looking to win on our opponent’s floor in the midst of a hostile crowd that's rooting against us while trying to distract us and make us "miss." 1 John 5:19 (AMP) tells us, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one .” The world we live in and the ever-changing culture are intense, loud, vulgar, and passionate about things that aren’t of God and we can’t stop them from saying what they’re going to say. Jesus told his disciples in John 15:18-19 (NLT), “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” Thankfully, when we know God’s Word and live surrendered lives, yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the negative chants from the crowd and endure the hostile environments we enter as members of the away team. The crowd or the world is yelling all around us as it attempts to drown out the voice of Jesus, but we can stand firm when we keep our eyes fixed on Him, block out the noise, and know that with Christ, we have what it takes to win on the road. Ultimately, we’ve already won the “series” because Jesus has already overcome the world and given us eternal victory! I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I'm so thankful that this world is not my home and I can't wait to spend eternity with You in Heaven. While I'm here, help me to stand firm in the hostile environment surrounding me. I pray that I'd be a light in a dark world as You shine through me and that my eyes remain fixed on Jesus as I endure everything this world throws at me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What hostile environments have you found yourself in as a follower of Jesus?
In what ways do you find it the hardest to live in this world on the "away team"?
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