It was a performance for the ages. Two months ago, professional baseball player Scooter Gennett didn’t even have a job. Today, baseball’s Hall of Fame wants everything from his glove to his socks to display in their hallowed halls.

On Tuesday night, June 6, Gennett became a legend, hitting four home runs in his last four at bats. Not only that, he went 5 for 5 on the night, driving in a whopping 10 runs in the Cincinnati Reds’ 13-1 thrashing of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Released by the Milwaukee Brewers two months ago, Gennett was out of a job until the Cincinnati Reds picked him up. 

But here’s what really caught my attention: Only four days prior to Gennett’s history-making performance, former Reds all-star Brandon Phillips publicly laid into Gennett and the Reds for giving to Gennett his old No. 4, rather than retiring it. Phillips thought his name and number merited a place of honor in the Hall of Fame, and he took it as a slap in the face to let another human being wear it. But as sports-writer Bob Nightengale so fittingly observed, “The cold-hearted fact is that the Reds’ uniform No. 4 will soon be displayed in Cooperstown — thanks to Gennett” (USA Today).

I couldn’t help but see the contrast between the prima donna attitude so often displayed in sports, and what is required of me as a disciple-maker. My goal is not to see my number retired for the admiration of others, but to see my disciples wear that number and surpass me in their exploits for the glory of Christ. I love how the apostle Paul put it: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). It’s His number, not mine, that is worn on my back. May it never be retired, but endlessly multiplied in the lives of those who follow me.

Dale Losch joined Crossworld as a disciple-maker in France in 1988, and has served as Crossworld’s president since 2009. He loves to motivate people to use their God-given passions to make disciples wherever life happens. Hear more from Dale.