Today's Journey
Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
Jan.27,2013
http://getmorestrength.org
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15
What’s with celebrities? The last few years have been littered with famous people behaving badly . . .
In
the 2007 World Cup games, the planet’s best soccer player ends the game
by head-butting his opponent on global TV. In 2006, an NFL hunk of a
guy intentionally stomps on an opposing player’s helmet-less head
leaving gashes worthy of 30-some stitches. My prized Chicago Bears have a
defensive back who has been arrested three times in the last 18 months.
And what’s with the trashy antics of Britney Spears? And the
drunkenness, drug taking, and public kissing of another woman that Miss
USA favored us with?
I’m not a real uptight person. I have a
pretty wide berth for weirdness and foolish behavior. I guess I’ve seen
enough of it in my own life and have come to believe that if we knew the
extent of the fall we would be surprised that anything good happens at
all. But this is ridiculous!
And, while I’m in this mood, what’s
with the tabloids that grab our attention while we are waiting in the
grocery line? Who are these people who have been caught naked by a
hiding photographer at some secluded beach? and who cares who’s getting
divorced, sleeping with someone’s best friend, or having another baby
out of wedlock?
But that’s just it, isn’t it?! Lots of people seem
to care. They find it all interesting and stimulating. That’s why this
stuff sells. All this behaving badly tickles the public fancy, grabs
headlines, and fills up tons of minutes on talk shows. Which leaves me
wondering . . . Isn’t there anything more important for us to be taken
with, for us to talk about? Where have all the really cool heroes gone?
I
hate to sound like I am above it all and on to better things—which
would come across as arrogant and judgmental—so forgive me. That’s not
my intention. But there is a great alternative to cohabiting in the
sludge of the seamy side of life.
I find that living and thinking
in the world of God’s Word, God’s ways, and God’s will is like fresh air
to my soul. And I do in fact have a Hero who after all these years I
find to still be compelling, amazing, adventuresome, challenging, and
worthy of my praise and admiration. Today, Jesus is more wonderful to me
than He has ever been before!
I don’t want to live with a pointed
finger at a world that seems to be spinning out of control with no
moral compass. What our wild world needs is not another self-righteous
declaration of how terrible it all is. After all, what do we expect from
people who without Jesus are left to their own desires and instincts?
What I want is to get my life in gear with the solid stuff that keeps my
heart intrigued with the pure fresh water of God’s Word and to walk the
path of life that Jesus walks, to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
My
heart beats with Joshua, who in the midst of lots of sordid pagan
options declared, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
And like Jesus, I want to remember to love and care for sinners. What
our world really needs is the life-changing power of a new life in
Jesus. So that will be my prayer!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- What is your reaction to news about celebs? Are you intrigued? Self-righteous? Disgusted? Ask the Lord to turn your heart toward prayer for those who need the life-changing power of new life in Him.
- What do you admire about your heroes? What do you admire the most about Jesus?
- Read Philippians 4:8, and do what it says! Next time you’re tempted to indulge in the toxic stuff of this world, choose instead to feed your mind on things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy!
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