Heroes and Duty?

Watching TV the other day and one of the commercials was a courteous one. The music spoke of being a hero and the product slogan was, “join us and be a hero”. It was an ad for a gym! My first thought was, “ what has going to a gym have to do with being a hero? Here was another corporation cashing in on the times.

I remember back when the airplane pilot landed the plane in the Hudson River and people called him a hero. I wrote a blog post saying the guy was brave and did a terrific job, but he was trained to act and paid. He did not fit the description of “Hero”.

Maybe in using this title we should use capitalize one and lower case the other? I believe being called a hero when doing our duty or we are getting paid to do the job is like getting a trophy in sports for participating. I was glad that when the pilot and others were called heroes, they denied the title and did not glory in their accomplishment.
This reminded me of what Jesus said about duty: Luke 17:7-10

In these verses, Jesus explains the attitude we should have when doing our job or volunteer work. In using the picture of a servant, which is our spiritual status in Christ. We are bought with a price. (Although at the same time we are friends, co-heirs, and co-workers in Him, but that is a whole other teaching)

To be a “Hero” we must do something brave that we do not have to do that demands self-sacrifice. You-know, that thing Christ did for us. Christ is our prime example of a Hero and much more. I feel like the title Hero would be beneath Him. Let’s keep Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. For when He came to us He humbled Himself and that is our example, wish not to be called a Hero but a good and faithful Servant. Servant with a capital letter!

Do You Feel Pinned to a Wall?

 

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
  5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
 6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”
 7 So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before.
 8 When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.
 9 But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,
  10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night.  Sam. 19:4-9

Sometimes we have people in our lives like co-workers, supervisors, even family that just don’t like us. It seems that no matter how hard we work and the good we do, they just don’t seem to care. In some cases they may try to under-mind us and what we do. 

Jesus spoke of Himself and John the Baptist in this way. No matter what the Pharisees and lawyers criticized them. Read Luke 31-35

31 “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?
 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’  34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’

 In David and Saul’s situation, it was because of an “evil spirit”. We can say it wasn’t Saul’s fault because he was influenced by a spirit but we know that Saul had a chance to repent. When the Lord said he was going to take the Kingdom from him, Saul could have stepped down. But he insisted on his own way, as always, which opened the door for spiritual influence.

I can easily see that the relational situation that I am pointing out is a spiritual one and can only be solved spiritually.

Jesus said that people will not like us because of Him. Even if they do not know you are a Christian. 

  24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
 25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! Mat. 10:25 

So what are we to do about this? You know that we are to be witnesses to our co-workers and families and it would be a bad witness to lose our temper or fight back. So what can we do?

Jesus says that we are to do to others as we want others to do to us. You know that little “Golden Rule Thing” we learned as kids. Jesus takes it seriously. Read Luke 6:27-28 and 31

 27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

And

  31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

By reading the rest of the main story in our main verses, you will see how David reacts to Saul. Until the death of Saul David acted as Christ commanded. That may be why Luke records Paul’s words in Acts 13:22 that God called him, David,  a “man after His own heart”.hat can I say, 

What can I say, it is not easy it is just right.

Running the Race Before You

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty.
Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others,
I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:24-27 NKJV

Growing up I was never athletically endowed. I was not good at any sports. In adult years I disliked sports metaphors in preaching. Now I know that anyone can understand the message in any metaphor even though they really never had the experience. why they are used so effectively in teaching. Jesus used them, and here Paul is using metaphors he learned back in Corinth. (Corinth was one of the areas that hosted the games.) Races and boxing were two of the most popular sports at the time.

I used to wonder about the “ but one receives the prize” part of this verse. I thought that we all run in the “Christ-like race” and we all win. But I now believe Paul is saying that we need to run as if there will only be one winner. We should run with all we got, with the best of our abilities (and even our non-abilities) We know that we are part of a larger group, the Church, and we are to help encourage the others in this race. But we must follow Christ with the determination that we will finish no matter if no one else comes along.

In the Gospel of John verses 21:18-22, Jesus tells Peter to follow Him and Peter turns to John and asks Jesus about him and Jesus replies, “what is that (how John will die) to you, you follow me.” In a race, you do not keep an eye on others. Nor do you keep looking behind you. I remember a movie years ago about an auto race where the driver snatched off his review mirror and told his passenger that he was not concerned with what was behind him but what was ahead of him. Paul stated in Phil. 3:13-14 that, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Forget the forgiven things in our past that may hold us down, press forward. And to win, we must discipline ourselves to run or box. Lose the flab (the flesh).
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before you,
looking unto Jesus, the Author, and Finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God” Heb. 12:1-2

Why run? The ancient Greeks participated in the games to win a small wreath of a crown that would decay in a few days. It was the honor and glory that was the real prize. The crowds worshiped them as gods. Their every pleasure was indulged. This only lasted until the next event and they had to win again. So the honor and glory of the world decayed also. We run for the glory of our Lord who is our example. Just as He endured the cross with His eye on the prize, which was the glory of being reunited with God the Father and bridging the gap so we might also join Him as overcomers. The Bible speaks of us earning crowns, but in the end we will lay them at His feet when we finally realize that Christ is our prize and our reward.

Those watching on the sidelines that said a prayer years ago, and that was as far as they went will not get the prize for just “participating.” They must be in the “race set before them. The witnesses mentioned in the above Hebrews passage are the faithful that were listed in the prior verses that have already run the race. They are in the winners circle. Their victory will not fade. Their witness should encourage you on.

So , “Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1

and
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 Jn 2:6

If God is real, why won’t He show Himself?

Have you ever asked this question or had a co-worker do so: “If God is real, why doesn’t He show Himself?” Have you ever made this statement or had a co-worker say it, “I only believe what I can sense with my five senses.” And the big promise, ”If God would show Himself to me, I would believe!”

God did show Himself. He looked and listened all through history and heard every question, statement, and promise. He choose the right time for these appearances. The Bible is where most of these visits are recorded.

In the Old Testament God walked with Adam in the garden.
He appeared to Abraham as one of the three men. Genesis 18:6 about 2067 B.C.
He appeared to Joshua as the Commander of the Host of Heaven in Joshua 5:14 about 1406 B.C.
He appeared to the Three Hebrews, King Nebuchadnezzar and those around them as the Son of God in Daniel 3:25 about 585 B.C.believe
And there were more possible sightings under dispute. But you get the idea.

Then He made His grand appearance as Jesus Christ which is recorded in the New Testament. Some say Jesus never claimed to be God or the Son of God, but in John 10:22-33 and 14:9 Jesus made it plain who He was. There are other scriptures to back this up. You can look these up yourself.
The Bible tells of His purpose to reveal Himself and the Father God. And He promised to fill us with the Holy Spirit. He did this by offering Himself as a sin offering for the world, for all of us who desire to see Him. Now, the GOOD NEWS, He is coming back to show Himself again and to gather all those who saw and believed and to those who have believed without seeing. John 20:29

Now I know some of you are thinking,” Can we believe the Bible?” This is a discussion for another time. But if you are having trouble, the Bible states that evidence was put in nature so that no one will have an excuse, Romans 1:20. Now some are saying that science and evolution can explain nature. This also is for discussion for a later date.

But will you be assured before His return? What will you tell Him when He asks why you did not believe after He gave so much for you to know God? Will telling Him you still have questions be enough?

I encourage you to seek Him with your heart. Haven't you been in darkness along enough?
Search for yourselves and determine in your heart that you will believe if He reveals Himself to you. The Internet is wide open for study. I can point you in the way, let me know. Thank You.

This document is a companion resource to the podcast by the same name. You may reprint this article for ministry use only, as long as to keep the copyright information intact.
Copyright 2020 Marketplace Christian Resources and Wayne Brooks.