God’s Game Plan

I was raised to love baseball. As a kid, I loved the summer sun and spending time with my friends on the field, but as an adult what I love most about baseball is the strategy behind the game. It’s like a giant game of chess! Every pitch is strategic. The players’ positioning on the field changes depending on who is up to bat. Who gets to bat depends on who’s pitching! There is so much more to the sport than balls and strikes and running the bases.

One strategic move that a coach might make is an intentional walk, or purposely putting a batter on base. Out of context, or to someone who doesn’t know much about baseball, this decision might not make any sense. Why would you purposely put the opposing team on base instead of going for the strikeout? Doesn’t that give them an advantage or a better chance to score? Believe it or not, there are several reasons why a coach might do this. As a fan, you just have to remember that the coach has a game plan.

As a follower of Christ, I’m thankful that the Bible tells us that He too has a game plan! Unfortunately, because we live in a fallen world, that plan doesn’t mean we’ll never face any difficulties. In fact, in Matthew 10, when Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to declare the Good News, heal the sick, and cast out demons, they get a warning about the obstacles they’ll face:

“But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers.” (v. 17-18 NLT)

Out of context, or to someone who doesn’t know that God always has a plan, this warning might not make any sense. Why would the Lord allow these chosen 12 to be persecuted or to be put in harm’s way? Because we serve a good God, we can have faith that He’s got a game plan. Jesus makes this clear to His disciples in verses 18-20:

“This will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28 that this game plan is not just for the disciples, but for all followers of Christ! Throughout the sorrows that we know we will face here on earth, if we seek the Lord and remember that He is always working His plan out in our lives, then we don’t need to worry in times of trial, because the Holy Spirit will work through us!

Father God, please help us to remember that You always have a plan and are working in every situation. Strengthen our faith so that when trials and sorrows come, our lives will testify of Your goodness to those in need of the hope and peace found only in You. We pray that Christ would be glorified in us and that Your Spirit would empower us to be representatives of Your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

“Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” (Isaiah 44:8)

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.