Even faith heroes have tremendous failings. Somehow, however, it seems to hurt more, cut deeper and leave us feeling particularly traumatized and off balance when our Christian heroes fail. Christians are supposed to be different - right? In fact, our entire series of "The Art of being Unordinary" is based on just that: followers of Christ living a life of being unordinary. Yet it stuns us when a hero of the faith has a failing. What happened? Why does it hurt so badly and what can we do about it? How can we make sure it doesn't happen to US?
Stephen Eckert taught a poignant lesson on heroes that fail us. What can we learn from it and is there anything we can do?
INVITATION: Sin has consequences. There is a saying: "Sin always takes us further than we want to go, it keeps us longer than we want to stay and it always costs us more than we want to pay." Are you willing to examine your life and habits to see if you could possibly be making excuses in any areas of YOUR life? Christians who have a failing usually are not planning to fail. They usually think they have it all "under control." But they are living double lives. They are relying on their human strength all too much and assume it will never happen to them. Pride. The original sin.
Do you have boundaries, accountability, and enough humility in your life to prevent sin from surprising you and suddenly devouring you - like a lion devours it's prey? Satan is eager to tempt us to any "inner ring" where he can influence us and keep us there longer than we ever intended to stay. If you are a believer, you already belong to a powerful "inner ring:" the fellowship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Are you being tempted away from what you already have? Do you recognize it? One of Stephen’s teaching points was to build a “boma” around you. This is something used as protection against lions (photo below). Do you have protection in place in your life? There IS a “lion” seeking to steal, kill and destroy. In your life and in my life.
MONDAY: Psalm 16:4. Hero worship is the wrong kind of worship. Who or what is a "god" in your life? It's easy to think we don't have other "gods," but Saint Ignatius of Loyola has a term in his well known Spiritual Exercises. He calls these "gods" a "disordered attachment." Is there a person, place or thing in your life that could be a disordered attachment in your life? It could mean that something in your life has risen almost to "god-like" status. Are you willing to pray about this and seek God about it? CS Lewis says: "when we make the praise of others the star by which we sail our ship, we are all headed for the rocks." Have you elevated the praise and attention of others too highly in your life? There are consequences to sin.
TUESDAY: I Peter 5:8-9. Be self controlled and alert. As Stephen described in his teaching, a lion attack is stealthy, sneaky and very very fast. Scripture talks about Satan as an "angel of light." He may not look or sound like a wild animal (probably doesn't), but often comes as something beautiful and lovely in your life that he knows he can use to bring you down. Are you controlled and alert about even the "good" things in your life? At some point, satan knows you will no longer fall for blatant black and white sin. He will have to be more cunning and sneaky and turn and twist something "good" into becoming a sinful "disordered attachment" in your life in order to bring you down. The Apostle Peter's denial of Jesus is one example which shows us that we are most likely to succumb to the evil one when we place our confidence in ourselves to withstand him. We can fight Satan off only by standing in Christ, resisting him with biblical truth in the power of the Holy Spirit. The teaching this devotional is written from occurred on Sunday, May 23 which is known as "Pentecost Sunday" on the Christian liturgical calendar. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and is still here and with you and me. Ask for the help you need from the Holy Spirit. For today. For this week. How might you use the Holy Spirit in the future as accountability and help in your thoughts, words and deeds? Are you also willing to ask the Holy Spirit to show you and convict you of what you might need to realize is going on in your life - no matter how subtle it might be?
WEDNESDAY: Joshua 1:8 & Psalm 119:165: God is not a "cosmic killjoy" that is out to ruin all our fun. His instructions - even if we don't understand them - are for our own good. What is your attitude about God's instructions and laws? What practices are in place in your life to know, absorb and live out scripture? Living by the principles set forth in God's word doesn't just happen--and our culture certainly doesn't encourage or applaud people who live by God's guidelines. You will have to be pro-active regarding your spiritual life and growth. Is that in place in your life? WHO is in place in your life to whom you can be accountable spiritually? Is there someone you might reach out to for help? Perhaps a counselor or a Spiritual Director or a friend to be in scripture with? Rockhills has some resources! Any of the elders or deacons are willing to help. We also have a Spiritual Director (Jan Hassler) and a counselor (Janet Wilhelm) who is willing to meet with you should the Lord lead you that way. We ALL need guidance, help and accountability. Are you willing to seek help so you do not have to do this journey alone? Did you know that I (Jan), Janet (counselor) and all our Elders all have inner circles of accountability in place in their lives? What about you?
THURSDAY: I Cor. 1:12-15: There is ONE true God. Hero worship is the wrong kind of worship. As you give these verses some time and space, are you guilty of giving to humans what should only go toward Jesus Christ? How might you pray about this today? Perhaps some type of tactile practice of "laying down your gods" might be helpful? EX: Write on a small sheet of paper, put in a helium balloon and send to heavens? Write on a sheet of paper and place at foot of a cross or perhaps burn?
FRIDAY: Luke 17:3-4: When heroes fail, remember that we (believers) are called to a radical kind of forgiveness. It is supernatural. We cannot do it without the help of the Holy Spirit. Do you tend to be judgmental rather than forgiving? Even when it feels justified by the world's definition? Stephen pointed out there is nothing in scripture instructing us to forgive and forget. The call to forgive is a personal level of forgiveness - NOT that people are released from human consequences. Your emotions may still bubble up, but the Bible is clear that the wrongness may not be forgotten - but we are still to forgive. As you sit in silence with today's devotion, is there someone you need to forgive?
SATURDAY: I Timothy 2:1-4: Don't have heroes, but pray for our leaders. Todays devotion is to PRAY for our president and national leaders, our state and city leaders, and the leaders (particular Pastor Adam and his family) of our faith community. go here words go here