Rocky IV begins with the Soviet Union on a world tour touting their athletic superiority.
In a demonstration of patriotic superiority, Apollo Creed challenges Soviet boxer, Ivan Drago, to an exhibition match.
The former champion Apollo Creed underestimates the tenacity and power of Ivan Drago and finds himself in a perilous situation early in the match.
Rocky throws in the towel with a hope of ending the match before Creed is seriously hurt, but Drago still lands a final blow that ends up costing Creed his life.
In the aftermath of the devastating knockout, Drago displays little remorse and callously remarks to the media on hand: ‘If he dies, he dies.’
In Esther 4:12-16, Esther is at a crossroads on whether to risk her life to approach the king on behalf of her people:
When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
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.”
Our fear of the Lord must always be greater than our fear of death.
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for the times when I was more afraid of what the world would think than what You would think. I repent of my misplaced allegiance to the approval of man and ask for a heart that only seeks Your approval.
Action: It’s easy to get caught up in keeping up with the proverbial Joneses. This week ask God to show you areas of your life where you are seeking man’s approval over His.
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is the founder of Break Bread, Break Chains and is the co-host of the following podcasts: Defund The Church, Relative Currency, Politically Entertaining, and Christ over Crypto. He is also the founder and creator of the op-ed site Fake News Syndicate.