“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies… The world was not worthy of them.”
Hebrews 11:32-34, 38
Once I was waiting with a group of people for the pedestrian signal to turn green on a street corner. While it was still red, one man decided to stride across the street. Within seconds, two people followed him, then three, and then the whole group. My friend and I remained on the corner, feeling almost silly standing there by ourselves. It was the classic example of “But everybody’s doing it!” But we stood alone, happy to wait until the light turned green.
People love to play Follow the Leader, even if it means doing the wrong thing. The world is waiting for leaders to break the law, trash the standard, and throw caution to the wind — that way, the world’s conscience is eased and people can feel their wrong actions are justified. In Hebrews chapter 11, the Lord has given us a roll call of great godly leaders from whom we can draw courage and resolve. The world was not worthy of David or Gideon, the apostle Paul or Peter, but God tells us to look to them as life examples of valor and nerve. Today’s verse shows us how righteous people can make a huge difference in this world.
Give the world around you a godly example to follow. Everyone else may be “doing it,” others may follow fallen leaders, but not you. Look for ways you can swim against the tide, go against the grain, and give people something, or I should say, Someone to follow!
Give me courage, Lord God, to be a leader today for the people around me.
