Everyday Heroes – Being Present

In 2004 Tilly Smith, a 10-year old girl saved over 100 tourists on a Thai beach because she noticed that the waves were receding. A Postman delivered CPR to save a baby. A father saved his children’s family dog from a burning house. Everyday heroes are all around: ordinary people doing extraordinary things. All through the Bible, we see examples of these kinds of heroes; the thing that made them great in their moment of triumph can make our lives great too.  Over the next few weeks we’ll explore some characters in the bible that may seem insignificant but truly qualify as everyday heroes.

THE SETTING
John 6:1-2
6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.

Imagine what this setting looked like.

CROWDED, BUSY, LOUD, DEMANDING, AND UNPREDICTABLE

Have you ever been in situations like this?

THE SET UP
John 6:3-6
3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

Jesus took this opportunity to test those closest to him. If he took opportunities like this to teach his 12 disciples, what types of situations does he use to teach you?

THE EVERYDAY HERO
John 6:7-9
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 

Jesus chose to reveal his power through a little boy; will he do the same through you?

THE RESULTS
John 10-14
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

When Jesus performs miracles His deity is undeniable. He also chooses ordinary people to reveal his Godhood. In this story it was a little boy, next time it could be you.

THE BREAKDOWN
Sometimes all it takes to be God’s hero is being present. Present is being near, on deck, or within reach.  This young boy’s presence allowed Jesus to do what only Jesus could do, take care of the needs of the people. Are you present or checked out?

COMMON REASONS
FOR CHECKING OUT

LIVING IN THE PAST – Depression
Luke 9:62
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Living in the past takes your focus of the present and leaves you incapable of being used by God in the here and now. Do you have a past that haunts you?  Realize that your past doesn’t dictate what God desires to do in and through you today.  Living in the present can release you to be used by God and heal your past pain.

LIVING IN THE FUTURE - Anxiety
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Living in the future is a pipedream. The future is always beyond your reach and out of your control. The future is dictated by your present, not the other way around.  To have the most impact you must learn to live in the present.

NOT LIVING AT ALL - Overload
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sometimes life can send you into overload.  The expectations, trials, manipulations, and beyond are enough to cause anyone to checkout. Lets adopt a different perspective.  The expectations, trials, manipulations and beyond are opportunities for God to reveal the Glory of God - if we chose to live in the present and allow him to lead.  You can be a conduit for God’s best for someone else if you’re present.

HOW BEING
PRESENT WORKS

LIVING IN THE PRESENT – Being with Jesus
Zechariah 4:6

6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, 'says the LORD Almighty.

Living in the present and being mindful of God’s desire to use you to reveal His love in everyday life is an extraordinary thing that transforms you into an everyday hero. 

Imagine all the needs within a mile of where you are right now.  Being present would allow you to privilege of being the hands and feet of Christ’s love.  

What would help you be more mindful of God’s desire to use you?

Reflection
GOD IS EVERYWHERE