The Major League Baseball season is underway and many teams are off to a solid start having already won seven or eight games out of the 11 or 12 games they’ve played. However, the most impressive start has come from the Tampa Bay Rays who are 11-0 with an 83-20 run differential.
Overall, Tampa Bay has hit 29 homers in the first 11 games which is a record, tying the St. Louis Cardinals from 2000. They’ve already had three games where they hit four home runs. The Rays beat the Red Sox last night as Brandon Lowe homered in his fourth straight game.
An article on Yahoo.com says, “The relentless Rays moved closer to history with the win where starter Shane McClanahan put in a strong display fanning nine batters across five innings allowing two hits and one run.
“Tampa Bay is within reach of matching the best-ever MLB start since 1900, which is 13 wins held by the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers and the 1982 Atlanta Braves.”
Although it’s not just about how you start the season, but how you finish, I still find it fascinating that the record is 13-0 and a team hasn’t done that in a long time.
The Rays are doing something special and an article on ESPN.com says, “‘This team is having a lot of fun right now; we’re doing what we need to do every single night,’ Josh Lowe said in his postgame, on-field interview, adding that the Rays have been ‘relentless.’
“‘We’re just going to keep it rolling as long as we can.'”
The word that seems to define the Rays is “relentless” which can mean persistent, constant, steady, unceasing, single-minded, purposeful, and resolute. I think it’s a powerful word and when a team rallies around that kind of approach and mindset, significant winning is a result. I’ll be pulling for them to remain relentless as they try to win at least 14 to start the season.
When it comes to our own lives, it’s also extremely valuable and powerful to be relentless, especially when it comes to following Jesus. We must be persistent, devoted, and unceasing in prayer. We must be constant in our joy and resolute in our hope in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) tells us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Romans 12:10-13 (AMP) challenges us to, “Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.”
Let’s be encouraged to be purposeful, single-minded, and steady in our faith in the One who relentlessly loves us, saves us, is always with us, and is merciful toward us.
Colossians 1:22-23 (NLT) says, “Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.
“But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.”
Today, let’s be relentless as we pursue and follow Jesus and stand firm in the truth of the Gospel. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to be relentless as I stand firm in Your love and truth. I need the Holy Spirit to strengthen, guide, and empower me to remain steady, persistent, and constant. Help me to pray without ceasing and rejoice always. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:1. In what areas of your life do you feel challenged to be more relentless?
The post Be Relentless appeared first on UNPACKIN' it Ministries.