LOVING OUR OPPONENTS
Sara Tucholsky stood at home plate, with two runners on base. As the pitch came, she swung and watched the ball soar over the fence. It was the first home run of her college career, coming at the perfect time. Her team, Western Oregon, was playing Central Washington University for the Division II women’s conference softball championship.
As she rounded first base, Sara collapsed, intense pain gripping her. Her ACL had torn in her right knee. According to softball rules, homeruns only score when the batter personally touches all four bases. Since she couldn’t make it past first base, her home run only counted as a single. Furthermore, none of her teammates were allowed to help her around the bases. As a senior, Sara’s career was over, and it appeared her only collegiate HR would be nullified.
Then Mallory Holtman from the opposing team approached the umpire. In an extraordinary expression of sportsmanship, Holtman asked if her teammates could carry Tucholsky around the base path. The ump concluded that the rule didn’t apply to the opposing team, so Holtman and a teammate carried Sara Tucholsky around the infield, allowing her to touch each base. (Thanks to Bud Jenkins for this story).
What a beautiful picture of Matthew 5:44, where Jesus commanded “love your enemies.” Likewise, in Romans 12:20, Paul taught “If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him something to drink.”
What a radical contrast with our current culture! In our toxic political climate, hatred and bitterness rule the day...on both sides. Whether it’s the candidates themselves or social media posts, we allow little room for disagreement, often damaging relationships. Yet something bigger is at stake; something more important than merely “being right.” It’s called “humanity”—treating others with common human courtesy.
More than ever, this is an opportunity for the body of Christ to shine. We can rise above the acerbity and vitriol of our current age, modelling “love your enemies.” Like Jesus, we can show the world how to treat our opponents. Rather than lashing out at our opposition, pray for them.
In the end, their kindness may have cost Central Washington the game. Western Oregon went on to win. But some things are more important than winning at all costs, which we seem to have forgotten. Yet on that day in 2009, Central Washington knocked the ball out of the park, winning in the game of life, even if they lost in softball.
Principle: We can model Christ-like behavior and show the world how to love our enemies.
Promise: Some things are more important than merely “being right.”
Ponder:
How have I been guilty of intolerance toward those who disagree with me?
What can I do today to reverse this trend in our culture?
Prayer: Lord Jesus show me how to love others like you do, especially my enemies.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Matthew 5:38-48.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.