Wolverine

When you think of superheroes that can be used to teach Christian lessons and compared to Biblical people, you probably don't think about Wolverine - the anti-hero of the X-Men.

When I think about Wolverine, I think about someone who attacks firsts and asks questions later. I see a man who has made so many mistakes and sometimes doesn't know how to deal with them. He has untapped leadership potential because too often he just does his own thing with little regard for anyone else. But if there is someone who you want on your team when the situation turns ugly - it's Wolverine. He'll step out and up when nobody else will. I see a lot of the Apostle Peter in the character of Wolverine.

Peter had been known to use his sword when it wasn't the time. He definitely made some mistakes and dealt with them by running back to the things he did before he was called. While Peter got away from his problems by going fishing, Wolverine always ran trying to both hide from and discover his past.

The main difference between Peter and Wolverine is that Peter grew up and became the leader that he was created to be. While Wolverine routinely collapses beneath the weight of his past and goes off on his own, Peter, when confronted by Jesus, eventually responds in the correct manner and sees 3,000 people come to know Christ at his first sermon.

That's the choice we face in our life. Do we respond to failures in our past (we all have them) like Wolverine or Peter? Both have similar personalities, but Wolverine consistently allows his past to drag him into seasons of depression and uselessness to the X-men. Peter, on the other hand, realized his failures but followed Jesus and moved beyond the mistakes.

Your team (your church body) needs you and your unique abilities. You cannot allow the past to dictate your future and the plans that God has for you. Put your mistakes in the rearview mirror and do some "uncanny" things for Christ.