Baseball managers know it is players who win games. The best managers know their ability to influence games is limited. The most they can do is to have the right person in the game in the right spot at the right time. Therefore, many good relief pitchers, pinch hitters, defensive specialists, and baserunners are available on championship teams.

Matthew 17 – Humble Payment

The Lord Jesus would have made an excellent baseball manager. He placed the right fish in the right spot at just the right time for His purposes! Here’s how it happened in chapter 17. He told Peter to go to the lake, throw in a line (the only time in scripture Peter used a line to fish), and pull out one fish, which would have a coin in its mouth equal to the tax for both Jesus and Peter! Jesus arranged for a particular fish to be in a specific spot, where Peter would fish at a certain time with exactly the right bait. The fish (with the exact coin needed in its mouth) would bite and be caught! What a Lord we serve!

Our Lord Jesus was no wealthy evangelist with diamond rings and new chariots! It seems neither He nor Peter, who had left all to follow Him, carried money to pay the 70-cent tax! But as only Matthew (formerly a tax collector himself) writes, He used the occasion to teach about Himself. Jesus showed His followers that they needed to pick their battles wisely. Although Jesus didn’t need to pay the tax since He owned the temple, there was nothing wrong with paying the temple tax.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete select their battles carefully so they don’t unnecessarily offend others for the sake of the gospel.

Bible Memory Verse – “Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” Matthew 19:21 (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on Humility.

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Book of the Week – Patience in Action Book 4 of 9 (Virtues to Victory Series)

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