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 – The Perfect Timing

The Lord Jesus would have made a great baseball manager. He put the right fish in the right spot at 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 his mouth equal to the tax for both Jesus and Peter! Jesus ordained a particular fish to a specific spot, where Peter would fish at a particular time with just the right bait. The fish (with the exact coin needed in his 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 demonstrated to His followers that they needed to pick their battles wisely. While He didn’t really need to pay the tax because He owned the temple, there was nothing wrong with paying a temple tax.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete choose their battles wisely so they don’t needlessly offend others for the gospel’s sake.

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “And this gospel of the kingdoms will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 13:17

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