I want you to ponder for a few moments the heroes in your life… the heroes of today and the heroes of yesterday….
You can tell who kid’s heroes are by looking at two things, their T-shirts and their lunchboxes!!
How to Recognize a Hero:
Humility –
Once Winston Churchill was sitting on a platform waiting to speak to a large crowd gathered to hear him. The chairman of the event leaned over and said, "Isn’t it exciting, Mr. Churchill, that all these people came just to hear you speak?" Winston Churchill responded, "It is quite flattering, but whenever I feel this way I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I was being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big."
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13 (NIV)
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Humility...Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. And when we are right, make us easy to live with. Peter Marshall.
Empathy –
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
Responsibility:
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:2-3 (NIV)
In an effort to lose weight, Eric Edmonds went to Humana Hospital (in Virginia) to have his stomach stapled. Less than 48 hours after the surgery Eric snuck out of his room and raided the hospital refrigerator; he ate so much he burst his staples. Now he is suing the hospital for $250,000. It’s their fault he ate, he claims. They should have had their refrigerator locked. (Remember that next time you have company!)
Responsibility: My Stuff Isn’t Small
One day I picked up my car from a service center and noticed a sign that read, “Two rules to live by: (1) Don’t sweat the small stuff. (2) Everything is small stuff.” The sign, I suppose, was intended to be amusing, but it made me a little uncomfortable. I mean, handing your car over to a graduate of the “Don’t sweat anything” school of auto mechanics was anything but comforting.—Vincent Barry, The Dog Ate My Homework
Opportunity
In a free society, every opportunity comes with three obligations. First, you must seize it. You must mold it into a work that brings value to others. Second, you must live it. Opportunity is nurtured only by action. Third, you must defend the freedom to pursue opportunities. You must embrace these three obligations as if the future of mankind depended on it. In fact, it does.
Eph 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity,
Gal 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
The ABC’s of Being a Hero:
Adhere to God’s Plan –
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you..” John 15:7 (NKJV)
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans…..”
Believe God to do the Impossible through you
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
Courageously Step Out When God Calls Your Name –
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
