The Courage of One

There comes a moment when we all have to take a stand."  Edwin H. Friedman, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix

Sometimes we can be part of a situation with our family, at work or in our community that opens an unexpected door for us. Maybe your child failed a class and Summer School becomes the proving ground for a potential young leader to learn about humility. A colleague shares her desire to leave the company and start her own business which vacates the corporate position you've always wanted. A cause which you are passionate about is suddenly in the media and you feel an overwhelming desire to join a public protest.

Success can be far more demanding and complex than mediocrity.
One of the great temptations is to play it safe. We have far more to lose and there is far more on the line as we become invested in love, careers and community. That's why it can become easy to lose our edge once we're emotionally invested. We can over-identify with the perceived needs of a family member, sacrifice progress for position or become blinded to the negative social effects of a cause. Eventually, I think we can avoid what God calls us to do and never imagine how our avoidance can inhibit life for others.

Successful people become acquainted with grief.
I once heard, risk-taking is for the young. Maybe it's because the recovery is so much easier or we just don't take the time to evaluate the effects of our actions. Wisdom's revelation is often painful. You may recognize a theme that occurs throughout the bible: something often has to die in order for something else to live. Followers of Christ become acquainted with such death-defining moments when our heart must measure our personal capacity for understanding resurrection.

Never underestimate the courage of one.
Esther's story began when a queen did the unthinkable. Sometimes God works behind the scenes to open doors for us. He doesn't always look for perfect people but for those who are available. It's easy to underestimate the danger Esther faced. Be aware of responses that try to minimize someone else's threats or danger. Esther's act of courage affected 9 million others plus future generations. Few of us will ever have that kind of influence.  Your most important act of courage may be just around the corner. It may take you in a direction you never dreamed or imagined and may only affect one other person. But, remember every act of courage - large or small - matters to God and that makes a difference.

"Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'"  Esther 4:15-16 NIV

Will we Stand in the Gap?

Gap: (noun) a break or opening, as in a fence, wall, or military line; breach; an empty space or interval; interruption in continuity; a difference or disparity in attitudes, perceptions, character, or development, or lack of confidence or understanding, perceived as creating a problem.

Huge gaps exist in our families.
Families have gaps such as a prodigal child, an unfaithful spouse, or an abusive family member. Some parents have lost all hope for their children and some children have lost all hope for their parents. Children and youth have limited resources and have no mentors. Addictions attempt to fill gaps unsuccessfully. Neighbors can be difficult. Elderly are forgotten.

There are gaps in the greater society of the world.
Racism and class warfare infest global communities. Business and professional organizations are bogged down with lawsuits because of lying, stealing and cheating. Poverty is everywhere. Society is on the edge of a breakdown. Slavery is at the highest rate in history while powerful human trafficking networks abduct children, youth and adults. There are world-wide attacks on Christianity, immigration issues and prostitution.

Violence seems to be the only antidote.
But, God calls his people to stand in these gaps. What kind of person is God looking for? The Hebrew term for someone who stands in the gap is "ish habinayim." "Ish" is a man, "Isha" is a woman. Habinayim is “one who places himself between the two camps and offers single combat.” He or she is a champion for the cause, a person who protects or supports someone in need, a man or woman who finds the courage to sacrifice everything to represent God and block evil from destroying those he loves.

We will explore together what happened when God's people chose to stand in the gap during this message series. We will discover the obstacles and opposition individuals such as Isaiah, Nehemiah, Esther, Noah and a young shepherd named David had to overcome. We may even be inspired to take action steps ourselves. Where might God be calling you to 'stand in the gap?'

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NIV