Opportunity to Be a Hero By Babs Kincaid

  “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

                                                        Judges 6:12

        So many true heroes aren’t on a mission to be a hero, but when God gives them the opportunity they rise to the occasion. Many true heroes don’t even consider themselves capable of the assignment or the title! That’s why the bible says “humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12b) Those are some of my favorite heroes! Who doesn’t want to be a superhero like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Luke Skywalker, and the list goes on? Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as “an illustrious warrior, a person admired for achievements and noble qualities, and one who shows great courage.” God gives us all opportunities to “Rise and shine” and that’s when the glory of God comes upon us! (Isaiah 60:1)

           Consider the miraculous biblical story of Gideon to give you encouragement. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!... Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you? ” (Judges 6:12b. Judges 6:14b) Gideon expressed a fearful response: “Oh, my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15) God allowed Gideon to overhear the Midianites speaking of their upcoming defeat, and so he gained boldness!  Bravery filled Gideon’s voice as he declared: “Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into our hand.” (Judges 7:15b) And so “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon” defeated the 135,000 Midianites with 300 men. (Judges 7:18b) Gideon’s extraordinary story gives me more faith!

 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen You and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah41:10-11)

        Emergency cries for help are an opportunity to honor God sacrificially engaging or swiftly departing from a tragic scene.  Let me tell you a true story about my son Will. Upon stopping at a highway rest area, he heard a passionate cry for help! He felt God was calling him to assist, so he wasted no time in responding to the need. He found a helpless wife with a choking husband in his car. Yikes! The wife was frantic stating she could get no one to help her! Will needed to do CPR and quickly! With no medical training, Will began to cry out to God and imitate what he remembered from a TV show. First Will had to pull the large man out of his car. It was a Godsend that Will had seen this done on TV and had an acute memory to pull it off! God is so creative when He equips us for a difficult task! Yea God! The 911 call was made and they were told it would take 30 minutes for a squad to arrive!  Were they kidding? No pressure, as Will, boldly performed CPR for 15-20 minutes before the EMT squad appeared on the scene! Will chose to be a silent hero that day and saved a doctor's life! Yea God! The bible says:  “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”(Ephesians 2:10) Will was God’s angel that day he chose to respond to the seemingly impossible mission! Wow, I am so proud of him and it inspires me to have more faith!!!! Faith that moves mountains is what Will experienced that day!

           “whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31