June 3rd, 2024
by John Kelley
by John Kelley
“Never meet your heroes.” You’ve probably heard that at some point. The basic premise of the idea is that when we put someone on too high of a pedestal, they’ll never live up to our expectations for them. One of the greatest examples of this is Brett Favre. When Favre retired from the NFL in 2010, he was the all-time leader in passing touchdowns. He was also the all-time leader in interceptions. Favre was a gunslinger and fierce competitor at quarterback and wasn’t afraid of competition….until 2005.
In the April NFL Draft of 2005, the Green Bay Packers selected Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback from the University of California, with the 24th pick. Rodgers had been picked by many to go as high as number 1 in the draft but saw himself have a historic plummet. As each pick went on, you could see the disappointment and frustration on his face. When he was chosen by the Packers, there was more relief than excitement in the Rodgers camp. The lower you are chosen, the lower your salary. On the flip side of that, the lower you are chosen, the better the team that is picking you. It also didn’t hurt that Rodgers was getting ready to be on the same team with his idol, Brett Favre.
Favre, however, didn’t share in that happiness. He just watched HIS team pick HIS replacement. This didn’t sit well with the future Hall of Famer and current pro bowler. Many times, the veteran players will help coach up the younger players and rookies to help them acclimate to the league and learn the best way to help their team win. While Rodgers was excited to learn under Favre, good ol’ #4 wasn’t ready to help out. He was even quoted as saying, “My contract doesn't state I have to get him ready to play. Now, hopefully, he watches me and gets something from that. There is no clause that says ‘You groom the next guy who’s going to take your job, or else.’ It doesn’t work that way.” The tension between them was palpable.
For three years, Rodgers would have to play second fiddle to Brett Favre who would act like he was going to retire until changing his mind at the last minute for two offseasons. This only built the chasm between the two. It wouldn’t be until 2008 that the Packers had enough of Favre’s games and let him walk. Favre would go on to finish out his Hall of Fame career with the New York Jets for one season, then two more with the Minnesota Vikings, while just coming up short of the Super Bowl in 2009.
Rodger went on to a Hall of Fame career himself, winning the Super Bowl in 2011 and winning 4 NFL MVP awards. As fate would have it, in 2020, the Packers selected Jordan Love, the quarterback from Utah State, to be their quarterback of the future. This time, however, their star QB would take the time to teach the young player as he would sit, just like Rodgers, for three years until he took the reigns in 2023. Pride is a dangerous thing, especially when we desire power and influence.
A major example of this is the Pharoah in Exodus 7. God sent Moses to Egypt to ask for the Israelites' freedom from slavery. Unfortunately, Pharoah didn’t feel like playing nice.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” ’ ”And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’ ”
Exodus 7:14–19
Moses did exactly what God asked, and just as the Lord said, Pharoah’s heart was hardened to the point that nine plagues were not enough to let God’s people go. He was willing to let the people of Egypt suffer for his pride. It wasn’t until the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, that Pharoah finally submitted and freed the people of Israel. Even after that, he still couldn’t let his pride go and sent his army after them. As we know, that didn’t end well either. His entire army was swallowed up in the Red Sea as it collapsed over them.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
How does pride affect you? Do you always have to be right? Are you a sore loser? Does your social standing carry more weight than almost anything else? Are you power-hungry? Do you get so caught up in proving that your sin is right that you neglect God’s Word altogether? This whole month is a celebration of pride in sin. We need to decide where we stand on pride. We can’t let it direct our path. It only leads to one place.
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11
When it comes right down to it, I can’t follow the Creator of the Universe when I think I’m God.
In the April NFL Draft of 2005, the Green Bay Packers selected Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback from the University of California, with the 24th pick. Rodgers had been picked by many to go as high as number 1 in the draft but saw himself have a historic plummet. As each pick went on, you could see the disappointment and frustration on his face. When he was chosen by the Packers, there was more relief than excitement in the Rodgers camp. The lower you are chosen, the lower your salary. On the flip side of that, the lower you are chosen, the better the team that is picking you. It also didn’t hurt that Rodgers was getting ready to be on the same team with his idol, Brett Favre.
Favre, however, didn’t share in that happiness. He just watched HIS team pick HIS replacement. This didn’t sit well with the future Hall of Famer and current pro bowler. Many times, the veteran players will help coach up the younger players and rookies to help them acclimate to the league and learn the best way to help their team win. While Rodgers was excited to learn under Favre, good ol’ #4 wasn’t ready to help out. He was even quoted as saying, “My contract doesn't state I have to get him ready to play. Now, hopefully, he watches me and gets something from that. There is no clause that says ‘You groom the next guy who’s going to take your job, or else.’ It doesn’t work that way.” The tension between them was palpable.
For three years, Rodgers would have to play second fiddle to Brett Favre who would act like he was going to retire until changing his mind at the last minute for two offseasons. This only built the chasm between the two. It wouldn’t be until 2008 that the Packers had enough of Favre’s games and let him walk. Favre would go on to finish out his Hall of Fame career with the New York Jets for one season, then two more with the Minnesota Vikings, while just coming up short of the Super Bowl in 2009.
Rodger went on to a Hall of Fame career himself, winning the Super Bowl in 2011 and winning 4 NFL MVP awards. As fate would have it, in 2020, the Packers selected Jordan Love, the quarterback from Utah State, to be their quarterback of the future. This time, however, their star QB would take the time to teach the young player as he would sit, just like Rodgers, for three years until he took the reigns in 2023. Pride is a dangerous thing, especially when we desire power and influence.
A major example of this is the Pharoah in Exodus 7. God sent Moses to Egypt to ask for the Israelites' freedom from slavery. Unfortunately, Pharoah didn’t feel like playing nice.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” ’ ”And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’ ”
Exodus 7:14–19
Moses did exactly what God asked, and just as the Lord said, Pharoah’s heart was hardened to the point that nine plagues were not enough to let God’s people go. He was willing to let the people of Egypt suffer for his pride. It wasn’t until the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, that Pharoah finally submitted and freed the people of Israel. Even after that, he still couldn’t let his pride go and sent his army after them. As we know, that didn’t end well either. His entire army was swallowed up in the Red Sea as it collapsed over them.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
How does pride affect you? Do you always have to be right? Are you a sore loser? Does your social standing carry more weight than almost anything else? Are you power-hungry? Do you get so caught up in proving that your sin is right that you neglect God’s Word altogether? This whole month is a celebration of pride in sin. We need to decide where we stand on pride. We can’t let it direct our path. It only leads to one place.
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11
When it comes right down to it, I can’t follow the Creator of the Universe when I think I’m God.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
What Is Prayer?AdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationScripture Is The Word Of GodGod’s Word Guides UsGod’s Word Convicts UsGod’s Word Connects UsGod’s Word Encourages UsWhat Is Worship?Worship In Our WorkWorship In Our FamilySunday WorshipWorship Even When You Don't Want ToWhat is Fasting All About?Giving God Our Meal TimesEmptied of Ourselves and Filled with ChristFasting Develops FocusFood Is OverratedGod Is NOT In The FireJesus Sneaks OffWe Make Our Own Noise
February
We All Need SpaceGod Is Not Santa ClausWith Great Blessing Comes Great ResponsibilityCan Stewardship Be Scary?Filling the Need When We See ItIt's All His AnywayTime Is NOT On My SideWe Need Each OtherDevoted To The WordBreaking Bread TogetherGroup Conversations With GodFour Hands Are Better Than TwoLet’s Keep It SimpleOnly Take What You NeedSlow DownThe Great PurgeA Simple MessageGod’s Word Is A WeaponDo You Have A Game Plan?What You Remember Most Matters MostStart With the Basics
March
April
Sin Is RealDistraction Leads to Cover-UpWandering In DisobediencePride Comes Before the FallI Do What I HateThe Beauty of RedemptionRedemption Has A PriceWe Need To Claim Our PrizeYou Gotta Have FaithEven When You Look Like a Fool….God Will ProvideTrust the ProcessI Forgive YouGrace Is Free, But It Isn't CheapI Was Wrong, You Were RightThe Mob
May
June
July
1 Comment
GO ON AHEAD!!!