God’s curve balls

We do try, don’t we? To hinder God? After all, we know what God wants. We know because we have faithfully attended Sunday school, confirmation, Bible study, and worship. Besides, since as long as we can remember, and well before that, this is how it’s been done. We know.

Well, we don’t. God, like a good pitcher, has a tendency to throw a change-up from time to time. Peter faced a doozy of a curve ball. Gentiles, those unclean folks, were about to be welcomed by God into the family of God. Give Peter credit, he didn’t swing and miss. He stepped out of the batter’s box, gathered himself and then got set for the next pitch. Three straight curve balls were tossed his way. Peter finally stepped up and smacked the ball; he did what God instructed him to do although it went against everything he thought he knew.

God still tosses curve balls our way. God might say, “Go befriend the man who sits alone in the lunchroom.” Or, “I want you to go there and do that.” Or, “I want you to welcome them.” It’s only when we do what God directs that we get a hit. When we refuse, we strike out.

Gracious God, help us always do what you ask even if it isn't what we expect or want. Amen. — DAB