Major League Baseball is coming off one of their best seasons with the epic World Series win by the Chicago Cubs. There are great momentum and anticipation, but the commissioner’s desire to make significant rule changes to the sport is stealing the headlines. 

Commissioner Rob Manfred is pushing to make pace-of-play changes to speed up the game. He’s in the process of trying to implement changes that include a pitch clock, limited pitching mound visits, a new strike zone, and a simplified intentional walk.

These rule modifications are being met with resistance. Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs has this to say: “The game’s been the same to me since I was young, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I think that’s what makes our game great. It is a long game and we play 162 games a year and there’s more strategy involved with it. I think it could be a slippery slope once you start changing all these things.”

I am actually in favor of speeding up the game, but there is something to be said about staying true to the game and sticking with the rules in place. Perhaps there is truth to Bryant’s thought that “it could be a slippery slope.”

This whole discussion about adding or taking away baseball rules reminds me of the way we view the Bible and the principles God has made clear. Let’s face it, when people read the Bible and decide they don’t like God’s commandments, they either alter them to fit their lifestyle or pick and choose which ones they want to follow.

But this can become a “slippery slope” if we don’t accept the authority of God’s truth in Psalm 19:7 (NLT): “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”

We aren’t given commands and guidelines to ruin our lives or keep us from “fun.” On the contrary, God is showing His love for us by setting parameters for our good and His glory, and to protect us from harm. His principles are timeless and we don’t need to let cultural group-think or the opinions of others cause us to question God’s infallible Word.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

Life is continuously changing and baseball, as we know it, may too. But God remains the same, and the truth of His Word provides commands (“rules”) worth following. Today, let’s stand on the authority of Scripture and rest in the grace that’s found in Jesus. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please give me the proper view of Your Word and Your commands, as I know they are in place to protect me. Help me stand firm when the outside world wants to discredit Scripture, and fill me with wisdom and understanding as I read and follow Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.