Thursday Thought: Who is Your Hero?

Background/Who is Your Hero?/ My Hero.

This week at camp the theme is Hero’s. All over camp you can find pictures of superheroes. Heroes like Batman, superman, Spiderman, Shazam, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, and Black Panther to name a few. Heroes have been a reoccurring theme this summer as it is also the Theme of Summer Faith and Fun Days. So I thought it would be fun to share the Thursday thought about Heroes too!

During our first staff meeting on Sunday night we were asked the question, “Who is your hero”? Some people listed some of the same superheros I just mentioned while others mentioned personal heroes from their childhood. When it was my turn, I shared that my mom is my hero. Now, in our answer we werent allowed to share why we chose that person, just share who your hero is. But I want to share with you why I chose my mom. My mom isnt my hero because she raised me and took care of me, my mom is my hero because she believed in me. My mom had a vision of who I would become.

When I first came to my mom, I was a little under a year old with sever physical challenges with my Cerebral Palsy, Tramatic Brain injury and at the time I had hydrocephalus, which is fluid in my brain, causing my head to grow rapidly. Even as an infant my mom saw my potential, rejecting quick surgical fixes, my mom walked alongside me every step of the way. As I grew so did my mom’s encouragement. When others would rather carry me, she insisted I walk even in the pouring rain. You see I can walk today because of my mother. I have compassion for the weak and vulnerable, because of my mother. I refuse to give up, I refuse become stagnant because of my mother. She is my hero. Thank you mom. I love you so very much.

I just shared one of my heros with you, but who is your hero?!? I want to know so comment on Facebook, Send me email, message or text! Who is your hero?

What makes a Hero?

I want to draw our attention a little deeper into what makes a person a hero. What defines a hero? What separates an extraordinary person from the ordinary?

The Definition According to Dictionary.com is a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. But does doing something courageous or having good character alone make a hero? Maybe, but my understanding of what makes a hero is a little more involved.

When I think of a Hero...

I agree with the definition that a hero has to have a noble character, but what seperates a hero from a good person is how they display that character through action. A hero must be someone that fights for those who are vulnerable and oppressed. A Hero is someone that looks out for those whom no one else values. The poor, the orphan, the foreigner. Yet, Heroism also involves action.

I think a hero is a hero because they risk their lives to save others. In other words, a hero is someone that saves others. In almost every hero movie, cartoon, or book. The hero puts his life on the line to save the people, the girl, or sometimes the whole world.

As I think about what makes a hero, I cant help but think about the theme verse at camp this week. 1 John 4:14

1 John 4:14 NIV

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

If we look at Jesus in light of this theme of Heros. Jesus isnt just any Hero, He is the greatest Hero in all of history for all time! Jesus is the ultimate Hero!

What makes Jesus the Ultimate Hero?

Jesus was perfect, sinless, he had a flawless character. Yet, as Phil 2 :6 says:

Philippians 2:6 NIV

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Jesus brought healing, forgiveness, and liberation to the most vulnerable and oppressed. Jesus saved many of people in his time who were condemned to exist on the margins.

Yet, Jesus did more than just save those on the margisn as our verse from 1 John said, Jesus saved the whole world. Jesus saved the whole world from sin and death. Jesus, who had no sin, became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.

Unlike most hero’s Jesus didn't just save the world once, but he did it an infinite amount of times. Countless generations have been saved by Christ’s work on the cross.

Jesus is my hero, He saved me from the life I lived before following Him. I know without a doubt that life wouldve led to death, but Jesus stepped in told me, I was loved. Thank you Jesus for being my hero!

if youre watching this, Is Jesus your hero? Has he saved you from sin and death? if not, now is the perfect time to acknowledge Jesus as your hero.

Yet, We all know someone who needs a hero in their life right now, someone who is struggling, who is discouraged, who has experienced tragdedy. We all know someone who feels like they need to be rescued from the storms of Life. We know that Jesus is the ultimate hero, with the power to save and rescue. Who will you share this good news with? Who will you tell about Jesus the ultimate superhero?

Paraphrasing from Paul in Romans: How we they hear if no one tells them? How will anyone go if they are not sent? Go in peace to share the Good News that Jesus is the Ultimate Hero! Love you church! see you Sunday!