The reigning American League MVP is also the shortest player in the Major Leagues: 5-foot 6-inch Jose Altuve, who plays for the Houston Astros. He was one of the team leaders who was instrumental in helping Houston to their first World Series Championship in franchise history last year.
Mighty Mite Before God and Man
He won the American League batting title last year with a batting average of .346. He is the shortest player in the Major Leagues since Freddie Patek, former shortstop of the Kansas City Royals in the 1970s and early 1980s. Despite his short stature, Altuve hit 24 home runs last year, plus 7 home runs in the playoffs. He also stole 32 bases and had 81 runs batted in.
The owner of the Houston Astros, Tom Crane, called Altuve “the heart of the team“. He went on to say that, “(Jose) always leads by example. When I talk to the guys in the locker room, everybody is better because of Jose, he’s a great leader.”
Altuve is a 5-time All-Star and he credits his faith in Christ for his success on the baseball diamond. “I grew up in a family that always told me that to achieve success, we needed to have God first.” That doesn’t mean that life will not get difficult or that we won’t suffer. But when we put God first we can count on God’s presence and blessing to be with us. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said:“But seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Altuve’s life is a testimony to these words of Jesus.
Jose goes on to say: “To achieve success wasn’t to get to the Major Leagues or have the best season in the world. The best success is to live your life the way God wants you to. If you can do that, if you can be good with God, then I think you will have success in your life.” I think this can be an encouragement to all of us.
This Is Good News
Even though not many of us can hit or field the baseball as well as Jose, we are all gifted in various ways. We all have abilities from God plus we can all have a good relationship with God. Through Jesus, we can come into a right relationship with God. We can have our sins forgiven and we can receive the Holy Spirit into our inmost being through faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus. This is why the Christian Gospel is called Good News.
Jose goes on to say that prayer is a vital part of his life. He not only asks God to meet his specific needs but he also makes sure he thanks the Lord for the many blessings in his life. He regularly prays for the Lord’s presence to be a living and daily experience for him. One of his favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through (Christ) who gives me strength”. May the Lord continue to be at work in Jose’s life so that God will continue to be glorified in his life.
QOTD: Are you trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and are you seeking first God’s Kingdom and righteousness?