Last Friday evening, Pam, a couple of dear friends, and I had an eventful experience watching our lowly Texas Rangers team square off against one of the better teams in the MLB, San Diego Padres. It started off being a boring game until about the 7th inning when the crowd began to understand that Joe Musgrove of the Padres was pitching a “No No” not allowing any hits to the Rangers. The electricity in the crowd began building batter after batter until the final hitter for the Rangers came to the plate. Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop of the Padres who threw him out at 1st base guaranteeing a “no hitter” produced by Joe Musgrove. An uninhibited celebration by the Padres ensued in the middle of the field…men behaving in a good way like boys. We learned later that this was the 1st no hitter ever thrown in the history of the San Diego Padres founded in 1969. What an experience!
After the game we discovered the catcher, Victor Caratini, had called every pitch and positioned his catcher’s mitt to where the ball was to be thrown. He took all the decision-making part of the game away so that Joe Musgrove focused only on throwing the right pitch to the mitt. He executed exactly what Caratini instructed him to do. The result? The “1st No No” of all time for the San Diego Padres.
The only way we as believers can achieve perfection as Joe Musgrove, while throwing his “No Hitter’, is to do E-X-A-C-T-L-Y what God instructs us to do in the Bible. For Musgrove, it was delivering what Victor Caratini signaled. For Christ-followers it is being obedient to God in His Word. Joshua 1:8&9 instructs us to, 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” If you learn to “be careful to do everything” as instructed, “Then, you will be prosperous and successful, strong and courageous.”
In life, you can throw a “No No”. John 15:7 says it this way, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Remain in Him allowing His words to remain in you, and you will live out the abundant life in a way that will impact your life as well as others.
In John 8:31&32, “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” That my friend is pitching a “No No”…perfection.
Barnabas Man 