Devotion 8.16.23

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt, "Man in the Arena" from "Citizenship in a Republic" 1912

Joshua 1

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I.Love.Theodore.Roosevelt. If there is a book or a series to watch on him, I've taken it in or read it.

TR was a man. A man's man in fact. He saw fatherhood as an honorable vocation, and he felt that having children was a sense of duty for love of country. He was well-read and well-written, authoring several volumes of books. He loved nature and took in all of God's creation. He was a man of faith, but it is said that he dozed off unless the minister could deliver a really strong message, a fire-and-brimstone kind of message.

He was, first and foremost, a man not locked into a period of history, but a man who made history. He learned of the importance of a modern navy and built up the navy in the US. He foresaw the country of Japan and sought to stop them from their aggression as it played out against Russia at the time, for which he won a Nobel Prize.

He was for the underdog and took on corruption in politics and in business. His love of nature caused him to establish national parks. 

For all of the "hero worship," I also realize he was a man, born into sin and a holder of sinful pride, yet his comment, "The Man in the Arena," is directed at people who intend on being active participants as citizens of their respective countries. In this case, it was France as it was moving toward a republic. TR was giving them advice as a former president that the credit belongs to the "man in the arena," who participates. That means you and me. It's beyond providing encouraging words to those who get out and give our voice or effort to a cause. It is saying the job will be hard, but it is worth it.

So, I'm taken to Joshua 1:9 as a believer when I read TR's quote. The command is clear: there may be things we fear in life as believers, but don't let that stop you from sharing the good news or exercising your faith. God is "commanding us," be strong and courageous. God tells us to not be discouraged. 

In my estimation, God is telling us the credit belongs to the man in the arena, not those cold, timid souls who neither know victory or defeat. We are commanded by God to go and share the good news. Christ made no distinctions as to the weather, nor the favorable or unfavorable political climate, but rather to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28).

God is telling us that He is with us, which Christ also notes in Matthew 28, "...and lo, I am with you always...." What do we have to fear.