Devotional on chasing: April 11

Daily Devotional: Friday, April 11 – The Catch

By Sports Spectrum Apr 11, 2025

New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays makes a catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. (AP Photo/File)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33

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I was watching random YouTube videos the other day and came across a video of legendary New York/San Francisco Giants center fielder Willie Mays and “The Catch” from the 1954 World Series. Here’s what made it so amazing: In the eighth inning of a tied game, the Cleveland Indians crushed a deep shot to center field at New York’s Polo Grounds. The crazy part? Center field stretched a massive 483 feet — far deeper than today’s largest MLB park, Fenway Park, at 420 feet! Willie made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch, never taking his eyes off the ball.

We may or may not be blessed with amazing speed or athletic ability like Willie Mays, but in life we are all chasing something — success, approval, money or even just hope to get through the day. So how can we win at the only game that truly matters?

Keep your eyes on the ball: Focus on what matters most
It’s easy to get distracted. Work, kids, hobbies and people all are jockeying for position in our lives daily. Even my cell phone sends me weekly reminders to let me know how much time I have spent looking at it! But if we take our eyes off Jesus, we can easily lose sight of what truly matters and is of eternal significance. Matthew 6:33 (above) reminds us to first seek God’s Kingdom. We need to keep our eye on the ball and focus on what matters most.

Position yourself for the catch: Be ready for God’s plan
Willie didn’t just run randomly in center field, hoping for the best. Instead, he positioned himself under the ball, anticipating where it would land.

As Christians, we need to position ourselves where God is working. How do we do that? Through reading the Word, time spent in prayer, and being around others who are on the same mission as us. If we aren’t in the right position, we may miss out on what God has for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Don’t be afraid to dive: Give God your all
Sometimes making the catch requires taking a risk and stretching out of your comfort zone. The best players don’t hold back! Following Christ requires that same commitment. Sometimes, God calls us to step out in faith, to go all in, even when it’s scary or uncomfortable.

Philippians 3:13b-14 says, “… Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

So what are you focusing on? Are you chasing the things of this world or keeping your eyes on the prize — Jesus Christ? Are you putting yourself in a position to fulfill the purpose and calling that God has created you for? Are you ready to go all in?

— Melissa Motes

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, April 15 – Put The Spotlight On Others

By Sports Spectrum Apr 15, 2025

UTSA head coach Larry Coker on Nov. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” — Philippians 2:3-4

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In 2010, I was named the team chaplain for the University of Texas at San Antonio’s football team. The head coach of the team was Larry Coker. In 2001, he won a national championship as the head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, and they nearly repeated in 2002. He coached 21 first-round NFL Draft picks, and the Hurricanes share the record for most first-round draft picks from the same team with six in the 2004 NFL Draft. He coached the Hurricanes from 2001 to 2006 and won numerous coach of the year awards.

In other words, he was a big deal.

I walked into his spacious office at UTSA and saw all kinds of trophies, autographed footballs and photos of famous NFL players on his bookshelf. I was intimidated and thought he would put the spotlight on himself and tell me about all of his great achievements. But instead, with genuine interest, he said, “Ikki, tell me about you. I want to get to know you.”

I was stunned. One of the greatest college football coaches was putting the spotlight on me?

You see, Coach Coker was a Christian and he considered others more important than himself. In Philippians 2:3-4 (above), we find that is the attitude we are to have as followers of Christ. So today, how can you humbly consider others more important than yourself? How can you put the spotlight on others?

— Ikki Soma, Iowa Wolves chaplain

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Daily Devotional: Monday, April 14 – Death To Life

By Sports Spectrum Apr 14, 2025

The Masters, Augusta, GA. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” — 1 Peter 1:3

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The Masters wouldn’t be the same if it happened in the dead of winter. If they scheduled it in January, trees would look dreary with no greenery or flowers, and the grass would be brown and dormant. During winter, the nights are long and the days are short, but spring’s longer days and warmer weather means beautifully manicured green fairways for the golf course in Augusta, Georgia.

The landscaping of Augusta National Golf Course is breathtaking in spring, especially in April. Vibrant purple and pink azalea bushes dazzle in the sunlight. The 13th hole boasts some 1,600 azaleas for millions of people to see. Each year, new professionals play the course for the first time and dream about putting on the coveted green jacket as the winner of the Masters on Sunday, but only one golfer gets that privilege each year.

As we come out of winter into spring and enjoy warmer days, birds singing in the morning, and longer evenings, it seems like we moved from death to life. This is a theme we see in the New Testament of the Bible, when Jesus started predicting His death, burial and resurrection, and he used an example from nature to speak about coming back to life. “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). At this point, Jesus had already raised Lazarus from the dead, so perhaps the resurrection of Christ shouldn’t have been a totally foreign idea.

The resurrection of Lazarus caused a big reaction amongst the people, and even provoked religious leaders to ramp up their desire to persecute the Man who performed the miracle. Bu the death and resurrection of Christ is different than the miracle He performed on Lazarus, as Christ alone is perfect and He’s the only One worthy to die for our sins and rise to give us eternal life. Most of us aren’t really willing to die for others, but Jesus loves us so much that He died on our behalf to provide salvation. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Death is a powerful force, but Jesus conquered death when He rose from the tomb and walked out alive. When Mary Magdalene and the disciples saw Jesus alive again, they saw a victorious Christ who had something much better than a green Masters jacket for every believer. Peter encouraged us to rejoice with him in Jesus’s triumph over the grave that opens new beginnings for us every day. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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Daily Devotional: Thursday, April 10 – A Call To Perseverance

By Sports Spectrum Apr 10, 2025

PGA golfer Scottie Scheffler. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:4

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Golf is more than just a game of skill. It’s a pursuit that requires patience, focus and perseverance — virtues that Christians are called to embrace in their walk with God. As you stand on the green lining up your next putt or teeing off for the long drive, consider the parallels between the game of golf and your walk with God.

In golf, every shot counts. There are times when the ball veers off course, when the weather doesn’t cooperate, or when we miss an easy shot. But a good golfer doesn’t give up. Instead, they focus on the next shot, recalibrate and keep moving forward. Likewise, in our Christian lives, we will inevitably face obstacles. We will stumble. We will miss the mark. And we’re bound to get frustrated as a result. But God calls us to persevere and trust that He has a plan for us, even in the rough patches of life.

Since most of us are amateurs, the game of golf is far from easy. We know we will struggle, but we still get discouraged and frustrated after a bad hole or a tough round. However, experienced golfers know that patience is key. Golf is not a race. It’s a long game, just like our journey with Christ. The apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race, but it’s a race of perseverance — not of speed. We are called to run with endurance, with our eyes on the prize of eternal life.

In our walk with God, as in golf, it’s the small, consistent efforts that lead to growth. Every challenge is an opportunity to develop patience and maturity in Christ.

Golf also demands precision. A small mistake can have a big impact on the outcome of a shot. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Just like in golf, distractions are all around us, but maintaining focus on God allows us to make decisions that reflect His will.

Even the best golfers will often make mistakes, but the key is to let go of those errors and move forward. One bad shot doesn’t define your round, and neither does one mistake define your spiritual life. God’s grace allows us to start fresh every day. In the same way, golf teaches us to remain calm and focused even after a mistake, trusting that the next shot could be the best one.

As we reflect on this truth, we are reminded of 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The golf course and the Christian walk both teach us the importance of humility and grace, understanding that no matter how many times we fall short, God’s forgiveness is always available.

In golf, you can’t control the wind or the terrain, but you can control your swing, your approach and your attitude. In the same way, we can’t control the circumstances of life, but we can control our response. Focusing on God’s Word and relying on His guidance helps us navigate through life’s challenges with a steady hand.

Despite the challenges, there is joy in the game of golf. The sense of satisfaction from a well-played hole, the camaraderie with friends on the course, and the peace of being out in nature are all part of what makes the game fun. Similarly, the Christian journey, though filled with trials, is also filled with joy — joy in the Lord, in fellowship with other believers, and in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Jesus reminds us in John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” When we stay rooted in Him, we can experience joy in every season, even when the game of life feels difficult.

— Cole Claybourn

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Daily Devotional: Wednesday, April 9 – Spring Forward

By Sports Spectrum Apr 9, 2025

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

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Spring. The word brings to mind renewal and warmth.

Spring is the season we wait for with anticipation (at least in New England) — a reward for having made it through the long, darkened, cold days of winter. It is extended daylight to welcome little league and lacrosse. It is buds on the trees, freshly mowed lawns, and the perfectly manicured greens of Augusta. Spring is a pep in our step and a joy in our heart. It is the sound “ahhhh” — a refreshment, like fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Our sports landscape seems to echo nature every spring. It’s the start of a new baseball season — every team on even footing with a goal of greatness. It moves us toward the postseason in basketball and hockey — championship aspirations to be reached. It brings hope in football — new teams, new deals, new dreams realized with the draft.

Look around whichever landscape you choose and spring has a way of demonstrating God’s goodness and the beauty with which He crafted our world. Renewal. Growth. Opportunity. Spring is a visual reminder of each of these.

In the Book of Isaiah, we come across the word “spring”:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me … because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” — Isaiah 43:18-21

The new thing God is doing springs up — much like we see renewal, growth and opportunity spring up before us with the change of season. But it isn’t always with such ease that we walk into new seasons of our lives. Sometimes we seek them. Other times they have a way of arriving unannounced or departing without farewell. Yet, within these words from Isaiah, we can find a playbook for finding our own seasons of spring.

Forget what happened — don’t replay the past. Be present — be where your feet are. He is doing something new — God’s goodness and glory and all He wants to give us are wrapped up here. He is making a way through — we must be willing to go through the winter, through the valley, through the challenge. Praise is a constant — we are “custom-made to praise” it says in The Message translation.

When it comes to the seasons of our lives, let’s remember that every spring requires intention and effort, attention to the present, trust in what’s to come, and acknowledgment — with gratitude — that it is all thanks to Him.

— Jade McCarthy

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