We are two months into the baseball season with the Milwaukee Brewers 36-23 and in first place by seven games in the NL Central Division.
Despite their former manager, Craig Counsell leaving in the offseason for a big contract with the Cubs and trading All-Star pitcher, Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, they impressively keep winning thanks to their power-hitting.
Jesse Rogers explains on ESPN.com in his article, “How Brewers are Riding Power to Top of NL Central Standings.” The alternative headline reads, “Small Market, Big Power: How the Brewers are Slugging Their Way to the Top.”
The Brewers are second in the National League in home runs per game behind the loaded Dodgers, and 8-2 in their last ten games.
New additions, Rhys Hoskins, Gary Sanchez, Joey Ortiz, and Jake Bauers have solidified their lineup and are scoring runs with their power. Brewers GM, Matt Arnold said, “We [acquired] guys for a reason. Those guys have that kind of pedigree. We weren’t where we hoped to be in power last year.”
They made the necessary changes and now have a lineup of power throughout, including eight players with five or more home runs, tied for the most in Major League Baseball.
As we consider how the Brewers rely on power to score runs and win games, let’s unpack the power we have available to us as followers of Jesus.
We have our own “lineup” of power: the power to be resilient, the power to forgive, the power to love, the power to comfort, and the power to resist temptation.
We have this “lineup” of power because of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We no longer live powerless lives; instead, we trust in the power of God and the power He gives us.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Before Jesus returned to Heaven He said, in Acts 1:8 (AMP), “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) reminds us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
To maximize our “lineup” of power and live a supernaturally powerful life that honors and obeys God, we must make the necessary changes and replace our limited power with His unlimited power.
We don’t have to operate in our own power but rather tap into the power made available to us when we receive salvation in Christ. Through His power, we live with joy, patience, and endurance.
2 Peter 1:3 (AMP) tells us, “For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Colossians 1:11 (AMP) gives us this prayer: “…[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy.”
Today, as the Brewers are “riding power to the top,” let’s be encouraged to depend on the power of Christ and yield to the power of the Holy Spirit to experience “home runs” and “wins.”
Romans 15:13 (ESV) says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are all-powerful and thank You for the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit within me. Help me to depend on Your power and live by that power so I can love, forgive, and obey. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
