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Who's Your Ace?

Writer's picture: Bryce JohnsonBryce Johnson

It’s no secret that Omaha, Nebraska is a sports hot spot right now. This is, of course, due to the city being the host of the College World Series - the destination for the annual pilgrimage of college baseball fans. What began with eight teams at the College World Series is now down to two teams and one final game. The Michigan Wolverines, who barely made the postseason after a dismal finish to the regular season, are aiming for their first championship since 1962. But such a feat won't come easy, as they will have to defeat the Vanderbilt Commodores, the highly recognized baseball school whose last championship was just five years ago in 2014. With the aforementioned winner-take-all Game 3 scheduled in a few hours, I’d like to unpack Game 2 that set up tonight’s contest. After a 7-4 victory by Michigan in Game 1, Vanderbilt was on their heels against the hottest team in the country. In need of a win to stay alive, Vanderbilt confidently sent their ace to the mound, freshman Kumar Rocker. In Vanderbilt’s previous elimination game, Rocker threw a no-hitter against Duke, the first no-hitter ever thrown in a Super Regional. The key to beating Michigan is limiting first-inning damage. In their four wins at the College World Series, Michigan has been the first team to send a runner across home plate every time. Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker was going to have to come out of the gates firing on all cylinders, and that’s exactly what he did. Rocker’s first inning featured two strikeouts and a fly out to center field. This start propelled him to go 6.1 innings, allowing just one run and striking out 11 batters. His start was the key to Vanderbilt’s 4-1 win. “We had the right guy on the mound,” said Vanderbilt head coach, Tim Corbin. This is a great reminder of how we should look to Jesus as our "ace on the mound," instead of trying to rely on our own efforts when we’re on our heels spiritually. Paul speaks of this struggle very candidly in Romans 7:15-20 (NIV): “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. "As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Paul clearly explains the same crisis all followers of Jesus have - the battle against our sinful nature. Sometimes it feels hopeless in our battle against sin, and that is exactly why we need to consistently call Jesus to the mound. Unlike pitchers in baseball, He will never wear out. There is no pitch count that limits Jesus, for He is all-powerful and full of grace and mercy. The blood of Jesus not only rescues us from the eternal consequences of our sin, but it also offers daily rescue from sin and temptation. Let us run confidently to Him. I’m Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that! Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your gracious gift of salvation. Thank you for Your love and mercy. I pray that You would help me run to You when fighting sin. Help me recognize I cannot just rely on willpower, but I need You to rescue me daily from sin and temptation. You are so good. Help me to place my confidence and hope in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Discussion Questions for PACKS:

  1. Who or what do you send to the mound when you’re on the brink of elimination?

  2. What’s something you need rescue from right now?

  3. Are you confident in Jesus to be the ace of your life?

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