The LA Dodgers had a chance to win the World Series in a sweep last night, but instead, the New York Yankees got a huge win 11-4.
The Yankees relied on their hitting as Anthony Volpe hit a game-changing grand slam, Gleyber Torres hit a homer in the 8th inning, and Austin Wells hit it over the fence in the 6th inning.
The win keeps the series alive with Game 5 tonight in New York. Despite this crucial win, the excitement of a high-scoring performance from Yankees batters, and even the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman breaking a World Series home run streak record, the top headline is about two knucklehead fans.
When you click on ESPN.com and their MLB section, the top story is "Two Fans Ejected For Prying Ball From Betts' Glove." The top story should be the most important, right? It should be about this huge win for the Yankees, shouldn't it? Nope, the story that people want to focus on is about a situation that happened in the first inning in the first row of the crowd in right field.
Yankees batter Gleyber Torres hit a foul ball, and Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts leaned over the fence into the crowd to make the catch. However, one fan gripped Betts' glove and pulled the ball out, while another grabbed Betts' other hand.
It was still ruled as an out based on fan interference, and both fans were kicked out. The game continued, and the play didn't affect any runs being scored or not scored. So, there's much to do about nothing, and it doesn't seem like that big of a deal in light of the Yankees dominating the game, right? That's the real story!
Of course, that didn't stop the media from asking Mookie Betts about the play after the game, but he clarified, "When it comes to the first-inning play, it doesn't matter. We lost. It's irrelevant."
As silly as it is that this is the story stealing headlines today, I'm reminded how, too often in our own lives, we make a big deal about things that shouldn't be. We can easily get distracted by something that "doesn't matter," or we can focus on things that are "irrelevant" to what's most important.
So, what do we have at the top of our life's "headlines" today that we've determined as the priority? What are we drawn to? What are we concentrating on? What matters most to us? Are we being too concerned with worthless and temporary things? Are we letting little things become big, causing us to forget what is important?
As followers of Jesus, we must keep our eyes fixed on Him and prioritize what matters in light of His kingdom, eternity, and what He values most.
Matthew 6:33 (AMP) says, "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also."
When we're tempted to get distracted, caught up in what's "irrelevant" to our purpose, or worried about things that don't matter, we can pray, "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways" (Psalm 119:37; ESV).
We must ask God to help us keep our minds focused on the right things. Paul tells us in Romans 8:6 (NLT): "So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."
Today, let's keep Christ at the top of our minds and first in our hearts and make our lives all about Him, living by faith and remembering what is most important. He's the real story!
Let's echo the words of Paul in Philippians 3:8-9 (NLT): "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith."
I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for worrying about things that don't matter. Please help me not get distracted by what's irrelevant and instead focus on You and what's most important to You. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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