First String Second String

"Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him." (Matthew 4:11)

It's happened even with me. I've shown up in church and there's a substitute preaching for the pastor and there's a let down (the air goes out of my balloon).

It's like when you go to a baseball game and you sit down in the stands and look up at the lineup on the scoreboard for the game - and you find out the best (your favorite) player has the day off. (Bummer.)

And let me go even further: It's like when you go to a party and your "clique" isn't there - the people you enjoy being around - and it's just not the same. "Why did I even come?"

But even Jesus (the First String of all first stringers) was ministered to by the angels (the second string). In God's economy the second string is the first string.

And just when you don't think it is (the first string), He'll (God'll) use it (the "second string") to try to get through to you. Mark my words.

Don't close your heart just because you think it's the second string whose playing the game (in the pulpit or wherever). That's when Jesus many times shows up in power.

After all, "'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?'" (John 1:46)

You might also be interested in:

• Chosen (A Dream Come True)
• The Perfect Game