First Sunday in Lent, Year A
Matthew 4:1-11
Good morning! Today I'm going to tell you about three super-talented, famous people. They have accomplished amazing things in their lives, but when they were young and just getting started, they were told they didn't have what it would take to make their dreams come true. Let me show you what I mean.
First, Walt Disney. Walt Disney was the person who dreamed up Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He created wonderful movies, like Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dumbo. The first cartoon he drew to become famous was Mickey Mouse. But he wasn't always a world-famous artist. Before he drew Mickey Mouse, he was fired from the Kansas City Star newspaper in 1919. because, his editor said, he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”
That editor was wrong, wasn't he?
Next, Elvis Presley. Elvis was a wildly popular singer and also an actor. It is estimated that during his lifetime, Elvis sold more than one billion records--more than anyone else in record industry history (Graceland.com). But Elvis wasn't always so popular. After one of his early performances at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Elvis was told by the concert hall manager that he was better off returning to Memphis and driving trucks (his former career).
That concert hall manager was wrong, wasn't he?
My final example is Stephen Spielberg. Stephen Spielberg is a famous director. He directed E.T., Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, to name only a few of his movies. He has won 155 film-making awards, including several Oscars. But Spielberg wasn't always a household name. Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. The people at the famous film school thought Spielberg didn't have what it takes to make it in films.
The admissions committee at the University of California was wrong, wasn't it?
Here's the thing. We have people telling us stuff all the time. Some of those people just aren't worth our attention. When someone tells us we are "less than"--that we will never make it in this world, that we don't have what it takes, that we are untalented or unlovable, it is OK not to listen to those people. Their opinions are not worth listening to.
I'll tell you who IS worth listening to--God. One way we listen to God's message is in the Bible. Here are some of the things God tells us:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 106:1) God loves us, and His love lasts FOREVER! Not just yesterday. Not just today, but forever and always.
“You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14); the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).” Isn't that a great thing to be a light in this world?
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are." (I John 3:1)
God loves you, and you, and you, and you, and you. You are God's beloved child. That is the most important message, the most important voice that you will ever hear. That is a message worth listening to.
Good morning! Today I'm going to tell you about three super-talented, famous people. They have accomplished amazing things in their lives, but when they were young and just getting started, they were told they didn't have what it would take to make their dreams come true. Let me show you what I mean.
First, Walt Disney. Walt Disney was the person who dreamed up Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He created wonderful movies, like Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dumbo. The first cartoon he drew to become famous was Mickey Mouse. But he wasn't always a world-famous artist. Before he drew Mickey Mouse, he was fired from the Kansas City Star newspaper in 1919. because, his editor said, he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”
That editor was wrong, wasn't he?
Next, Elvis Presley. Elvis was a wildly popular singer and also an actor. It is estimated that during his lifetime, Elvis sold more than one billion records--more than anyone else in record industry history (Graceland.com). But Elvis wasn't always so popular. After one of his early performances at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Elvis was told by the concert hall manager that he was better off returning to Memphis and driving trucks (his former career).
That concert hall manager was wrong, wasn't he?
My final example is Stephen Spielberg. Stephen Spielberg is a famous director. He directed E.T., Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, to name only a few of his movies. He has won 155 film-making awards, including several Oscars. But Spielberg wasn't always a household name. Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. The people at the famous film school thought Spielberg didn't have what it takes to make it in films.
The admissions committee at the University of California was wrong, wasn't it?
Here's the thing. We have people telling us stuff all the time. Some of those people just aren't worth our attention. When someone tells us we are "less than"--that we will never make it in this world, that we don't have what it takes, that we are untalented or unlovable, it is OK not to listen to those people. Their opinions are not worth listening to.
I'll tell you who IS worth listening to--God. One way we listen to God's message is in the Bible. Here are some of the things God tells us:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 106:1) God loves us, and His love lasts FOREVER! Not just yesterday. Not just today, but forever and always.
“You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14); the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).” Isn't that a great thing to be a light in this world?
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are." (I John 3:1)
God loves you, and you, and you, and you, and you. You are God's beloved child. That is the most important message, the most important voice that you will ever hear. That is a message worth listening to.
