Dugout Devotions | No Payback, Just Prayer
Jesus calls us to love and pray for our enemies, not get even.
Before you share this devotion with your players, check out my son’s latest project, a Baseball Trivia Podcast: Swing for the Fences.
Whether you’re in the dugout or heading home from the field, ask your players:
Have you ever had someone cheat in a game?
Maybe a teammate teased you? Or someone slid into second a little too hard?
What do we want to do when that happens? Get back at them, right? Maybe glare at them. Maybe mutter something under our breath. Or just hope they strike out next time.
That’s called revenge—getting even. But guess what?
Jesus says NOPE. That’s not what the Kingdom of God is about.
Let’s read what Jesus tells his disciples about what to do when someone hurts you or makes you mad.
Read Matthew 5:38-38
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Let’s think like Jesus here. Not like the world.
Ask your players…
If someone calls you a name or throws shade your way, what’s your first reaction?
(Let them answer—validate that it’s normal to get mad.)Why do you think Jesus says “pray for them” instead of “get them back”?
(Encourage them to wrestle with this—it’s not an easy teaching.)What do you think happens to our hearts when we pray for someone who’s mean to us?
Have you ever tried to pray for someone you didn’t like? What happened?
Here’s the deal: When someone fouls us, on the field or in life, Jesus doesn’t hand us a bat and say, “Swing back.”
He says, “Pray.”
And not just any prayer. A real one. One that says:
“God, help me love them. Help me see them the way you do. Help me not become like them.”
That’s tougher than any double play.
Let’s try it today. Think of someone who’s bugged you lately. Maybe it’s a sibling. Maybe a kid from school. Maybe a teammate who doesn’t pass.
We're going to pray for them. Not about them. For them.
Pray this together:
Dear God,
thank you for loving me.
And most of all, thank you for loving the people I have trouble loving.
Help me see them the way you see them.
Turn my anger into giggles and laughter.
And we’ll talk to you later.
Amen.