Have you met a hero? One day at work, a gaggle of overactive preschoolers ran past my office door: two girls with long hair bobbing, followed by two enthusiastic boys. One little guy in the middle announced with exuberance, “If you need someone strong, I’m the one!”
True heroes are rare! I have no doubt this youngster has the right attitude!
I broke out in open laughter in response to such confidence coming from one so small. The more I thought of it, however, I realized I should possess this same buoyant enthusiasm.
“No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37
God planted inside each of us a desire to overcome, triumph, defend justice, and fight for what is right. Children don’t hide it socially like adults do, but we all have this godly desire.
Overcome
Ask any child to name their favorite superhero and you might be there for awhile! The “first” superheroes emerged in the 1930’s. The list of imaginary “supers” is long!
Ask an adult the same question. Their ballots may include people of excellence in sports, arts & entertainment, social justice, or a multitude of other fields.
A hero, according to Oxford Dictionary, is someone who is “admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities.” Look around for a moment. You will see heroes hidden behind humble acts of service rather than standing in front of a microphones or cameras. True heroes live well
parents, teachers, doctors, plumbers,
farmers, truckers, nurses, administrative assistants,
husbands and wives, neighbours and friends
courageously and faithfully
feet to the road and grit in their teeth
When there is unrewarding, difficult, relentless tasks, heroes say, “If you need someone strong, I’m the one!”
Yet, at the same time, they face their humanity with all its limitations. Listen to this:
“…For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Heroes face their impossibilities not with drooped heads but rather with hearts of courage and eyes fixed upward.
“I’m the one!” kind of people don’t back down from a fight; they press in to overcome!
Triumph
Heroes face grave opposition and come through! In knowing their strengths and their weaknesses, they are prepared to accentuate those strengths and place extra protection over their weakest area.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God,
so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.”
Ephesians 1:10-11
Actually, most of those who triumphed in the bible were not seeking front-line duty. Think of
Esther a young non-descript Jewish girl,
David, a young shepherd,
Samuel, as a small boy, dedicated to serve in the church
Moses, a foster child, a ward of the state, run-away, then shepherd
Gideon a farmer or Daniel a refugee
Ruth, a widow,
Peter, James and John, simple fishermen
…
High risk and no visible guarantee marked the tasks ahead of them. None of them had their hand raised saying, “If you need someone strong, I’m the one!”
As a matter of fact, they were reluctant to step into God’s assignment. However, all of them grasped the truth
“…What is impossible with man
is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27
Like true heroes they put on their God given armour and fought the fight of faith, triumphantly bringing good over the evil in their day.
Miraculous
Some of the last words of Jesus resonates as a call to heroism.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation
….and these signs will accompany those who believe;
In my name they will drive out demons;
they will speak in new tongues;
they will pick up snakes with their hands;
and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;
they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Mark 16:15-20
Clearly “superhero” stuff, right? Yet, Jesus said, these superhero qualities are for all “who believe”! Now that is a bold kind of faith!
Oh, but it is a faith that those who believe are running with!
Everyday people are set free from demonic strongholds, bodies are healed, minds restored, and some are even raised from the dead. Faith is being activated in people globally to walk as God’s heroes, trusting His word, and radically taking risks.
Faith is often spelled r-i-s-k! It may feel risky to pray for the sick to be healed, until they are. It may also feel risky to step into the fray and cast out demons, until they do. We will never see the dead raised to life, until we ask.
I can tell, I’m losing some of you here, but listen again to what Jesus commanded:
“Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:8
I am convinced we have received far more through faith in Jesus Christ than we are presently accessing or releasing.
SuperGram
There is one more hero you, of course, have never heard about. Her name is “SuperGram”. Apparently one of her greatest powers is “master-mind”.
The reason you have never heard of her, is because she was just so “bestowed” only yesterday!
Yes, only yesterday, my 6 year old grandson came to where I work secretly announcing my new position. Of course, he revealed his own super status and the secret powers he too possessed. He went around lavishly disclosing the hidden super hero strength of others as well. My girlfriend was instantly dubbed “Lightning Woman!”
I chucked and I’m sure you are too!
Yet at the same time, I feel Jesus nudge my heart just a little, “you are far more super hero than you realize”!
Why? Because
“Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
Why? Because God is greater! The One who resides in us is greater than all else! As God’s children, we may be small, but we are overcomers!
Take this fresh motto from a child, “If you need someone strong, I’m the one!”
Embrace God’s truth; be a hero!
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Further Reading
Normal? What Does It Mean To Be Normal Christian?
Enjoyed this!
Kids make my day! Go hero, live super!