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Opening Day
Opening day is exciting! At least for baseball players and fans. For the player, the day-to-day grind of spring training is over and a new joy begins to form. When the repetition of spring training finally ends and playing games takes on purpose, both fans and players start to dream. It’s a new season. The slate is wiped clean from all the happiness or misery of the last season. Off-season moves have been made. The buzz is high because the record is 0-0 and every team feels as though they have a chance to make a playoff run. It always amazes me how baseball is basically life in microcosm.
The Scripture passage (Hebrews 10:9-18) reminds us that Jesus came, and if we are in a relationship with him, he has wiped our slate clean. Specifically referencing Jeremiah 31:34, he says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Last season, last year, yesterday... anything before today, no longer has weight. When we encounter the Living God, opening day has arrived!
Just as the boys of summer get excited for the start of the season and games that matter, we have joy in the fact that our lives matter in Christ. From the moment we recognize the grace that has been given to us by God, our once meaningless lives find purpose. Where there was no hope, we now have hope. When we’re tired and broken, we can be strengthened and encouraged knowing we are no longer alone. We don’t have to fight only for ourselves. We now have a team: Jesus and other believers throughout the world.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul reinforces our opening day mentality:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here!
As you go through your day, dwell on the amazing reality of your clean slate. Yesterday holds no weight. The new day is here.
And if you feel like you’re stuck in spring training, take hope that opening day is near and there is a Savior who accepted you even before you accepted him. Sing out Romans 3:24: “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
About this Plan
Former Major League Baseball player, Justin Masterson highlights how the Lord has spoken to him through the game of baseball even in the dog days of life's seasons.
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