Broken! That is the word former Major League Baseball All-Star and Four-Time World Series Champion Darryl Strawberry used to describe himself. Although Strawberry experienced incredible success during his 17-year major league career, he still struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse. He struggled with obedience and disobedience to God for years. Finally, he stopped straddling the fence and obeyed God. “I do what I do today because God saved me. I’m a sinner; I just don’t practice it anymore. God rescued me. He was the only one who could. We need to commit to doing this daily, and we must do this to save our children. God is challenging us to follow the Bible and his principles.”

Leviticus 26 – Obedience

The nation of Israel belongs to God, but the Israelites lived much as Darrel Strawberry did. They “straddled the fence” between obedience and disobedience to God. In Leviticus 26-27, God gave a list of rewards and punishments to teach obedience to His children. His list in chapter 26 is repeated 40 years later in Deuteronomy 28!

Israel was supposed to obey God because of Who God is. He is the Living Lord. “LORD” (in all capital letters) means He is the great I Am, the self-existent One who made a covenant with Israel. No idols could take God’s place.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete seek to obey God in everything they do. They realize they are blessed because they are “in Christ.” God’s principle remains: “Those who honor Me, I will honor” (Samuel 2:30).

Bible Memory Verse – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13 (LSB)