The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out an important win last night as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 in 13 innings. The NLCS is now tied at 2-2 and the games have been intense.
There has also been some drama with Dodgers' star shortstop, Manny Machado, who finds himself at the center of controversy over the "questionable" way he’s been playing.
Last night as Machado ran to first base in the 10th inning, and was called out, it looked like he kicked the foot of first baseman, Jesus Aguilar, while dragging his foot over the bag. Aguilar thought it was a dirty play and got upset, so the benches quickly cleared.
In Game 3, Machado was criticized for his style of play after making a couple of hard slides while attempting to stop potential double plays. Along with these issues, there has also been concern about his lack of effort and not running as hard as he should.
Ken Rosenthal specifically asked Machado about this in an interview before Game 4, and he replied, “Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base and…you know, whatever can happen. That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.”
With plenty of talent, Machado does so many other things well on the baseball field. But in my opinion, lacking hustle and not being willing to change because it's not part of his "personality" is a bad approach.
We can also do the same thing in our own lives. In an attempt to disguise our unwillingness to change, haven't we all justified our lack of effort and disobedience by explaining to others that it's just who we are?
Haven't there been times when we're unwilling to let go of past mindsets or character flaws because we simply accept that we’re not going to change?
By doing this, however, we are basically telling other people to just deal with it. God’s Word reveals the right way to live, but we are hiding behind our stubbornness when we say, “That’s not my cup of tea.”
Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, change is possible. Even though we were created with a certain personality and have a bent toward specific things, we can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within to do the transforming work.
When we open our hearts and let go of our old ways of doing things, God helps us make the necessary changes.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (AMP) explains, "...that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self , which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind , and put on the new self , created in God’s image, in the righteousness and holiness of the truth .”
God makes us new when we receive His grace. Today, let’s continue pushing ahead with a fresh heart and mind...becoming more and more like Jesus.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the work You are doing to change me from the inside out. I pray that I wouldn’t cling to old mindsets or make excuses for being disobedient. Please renew my mind and cleanse my heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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