Who's Your Hero?

 

"If you're nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it." ~ Ironman to Spiderman

 Everybody likes a superhero.  They right the wrong, use their amazing gifts, punish the bad guy, ALWAYS have the best quotes, and definitely have the most distinguishing attire.  Their confidence helps them dive right into a scary situation with no fear, and their reliability is unthinkable.  They are part of a team, and have learned to work together to combat & conquer evil with each of their strengths.  

Hmmm.... if only we, as Christians, who actually have the REAL power, the REAL strength, the REAL foundation of courage & righteousness, and the REAL faithfulness in us, could learn to live their life of fearlessness.  (Disclaimer: I'm not saying Spiderman and Ironman aren't real.)

 And as much as I HATE spiders, I found a crazy amount of correlation between Spiderman movies & our lives.  I'm thinking the writers of these superhero movies are familiar with the Bible?

Sometimes we have a tendency to hide - from God & from each other.  Adam & Eve learned that hiding from God put them in a very bad situation, and that even after- when the two presented themselves to Him- He took care of them by clothing their naked bodies.  (Gen 3:21)

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable." Heb 4:13

Instead of trying to hide from God, who is omnipresent and omniscient, turn to Him and have the attitude of the psalmist- "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Ps 139:23-24)

 No one really wants to admit or expose their weaknesses (unless it gets you out of a job you don't want to do -like me when my husband wants me to grill or recall anything historical) and it's pretty challenging sometimes to admit to someone we were wrong, or we did them wrong.  The people we do life together with daily are sometimes the hardest ones to confess our sin to - is it because we have an image of ourselves we are trying to uphold?  

I constantly need to be reminded of Paul's instruction to us- "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too."  (Phil 2:3-4)  

As Christ followers, we are to look to Him.  Paul described Jesus- "Though He was God He did not regard equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges , He took the humble position of a slave, and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God, and died a criminal's death on a cross. (Phil 2:6-8)

God knew this would be hard for us, so He offers us help to accomplish it.  He gives us the suit.

His suit. 

    

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Just like the superheroes, along with the suit He gave us our own gifts.    He gave us different kinds of gifts, service, and workings, but He is behind all of it.  "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be." (1 Cor 12: 18)  We are designed to work as a whole unit, as 1 Corinthians 12 says.

If you haven't ever taken a spiritual gifts inventory you can do it now.  Start noticing other people's gifts and encourage them to use theirs as well.  If our goal with other Christ-followers is to introduce others to Christ as their savior we can work as a team in our life ministry.  

 Back to the original question of this blog - Who is your hero?  

It seems like humanity has placed some pretty questionable characters as heroes/idols - Hollywood, athletes, social media popularity, politicians, money, fame.  

I want my hero to be evident.  The One who came down from perfect heaven to sin-stained earth willingly.  He was ridiculed, unappreciated and mocked.  He healed the sick, gave life back to the dead, spoke words of life to the down-trodden & poor in spirit, and strengthened the weak, among many things.  He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them (Rom 8:28).

I hope this encourages you to remember today whose Heroic Spirit is inside of you.

 And it's not Spiderman.

✙ Lord, You are our hero.  Please make it evident in our lives who we live for.  Help us to access Your power, Your Spirit, Your strength today.  Help us to realize when we are down-trodden that You are still right here with us to speak those words of life into us.  Lead us to You - take out our busyness & things we may be putting into idol positions.  We desire to be like You and You only.  Amen. 

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