God's Coaching #86

God's Coaching #86

Frank Tanana’s life was a mess. Athletically, Frank was on top of the world. A first-round draft pick by the California Angels in 1971, Frank quickly rocketed to stardom as a fireballing left-handed pitcher. He led the American League in strikeouts with 269 by age 22 and was voted into three straight All-Star Games. But off the field, Frank was useless. Drinking and partying topped his postgame rituals. Despite his success in baseball, he felt terribly empty inside.

That’s when God intervened. Through a series of arm injuries and the death of a teammate, Frank slowly began considering tough spiritual questions. By 1983, he had become a Christian, and his life was drastically changed. After retiring from baseball in 1993, he devoted himself to spreading the gospel. In addition to serving as an elder at his church in Michigan, he traveled nationwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ at prisons, golf tournaments, seminars, and various church functions.

What’s the Score?

Like Frank’s life story, the book of Philemon is a wonderful tale of how God radically changes lives. In it, Paul pleads with Philemon to forgive a slave named Onesimus, who had apparently stolen from Philemon and run away. In the ancient world, most runaway slaves would be thrown into prison or executed. Some people would have considered Onesimus useless. But somewhere along his flight, Onesimus ran into Paul, who shared the gospel with him. In his letter, Paul encouraged Philemon to forgive Onesimus and receive him as “a brother in the Lord.”

Spiritually speaking, we all start life as useless. With sin and selfishness running our lives, we are like spiritual runaways who have no hope. But God loves to change lives, just like he did with Onesimus and Frank. In his letter, Paul tells Philemon that his seemingly useless runaway slave is now “very useful to both of us.” Sometimes God uses our parents, a friend, or a church to help us turn from our sins. Maybe in your life he’s even using this devotional book. Regardless, God wants each of us to turn from our sins and to run to him through faith in Jesus, just like Onesimus did. Then we can go from being useless to being very useful in the Kingdom of God!

On the Ball

List three ways you can be useful to God this week, and work to accomplish each goal.

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Coach’s Comment

Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. Philemon 1:11