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Book

Reflections for Movie Lovers

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN: 0899571468
Price: $12.99

 
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL

We Are a Peculiar People

By Matthew Kinne

CBN.com Forrest Gump (1994)

American Film Institute Ranking: 71
Academy Awards: Best Picture; Robert Zemeckis, Best Director; Tom Hanks, Best Actor; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Film Editing; Best Visual Effects
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for drug content, some sensuality, and war violence

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25

We are fools for Christ. (1 Corinthians 4:10)

“Stupid is as stupid does,” says Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks. To say the least, this man is peculiar. Odd, dumb, and even plain foolish are other ways of putting it. But for the most part, life is just fine for this Southern simpleton. He goes to a good school, becomes a football hero, and is decorated as a Vietnam War hero. He meets presidents and becomes a shrimp tycoon. He invents the smiley face logo and starts the fitness craze. He goes to church, helps his disgruntled friend Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) come to faith and peace, and marries his lifelong sweetheart, Jenny (Robin Wright Penn). Though Jenny eventually dies of AIDS, Forrest is glad to enjoy life with his son, Forrest Jr.

Many might think that God can only use important, smart, and educated people in his kingdom. We see teachers, preachers, writers, and leaders doing great exploits, and we think that only those who are wise can really do something important for God. The Bible says this isn’t true. In fact, God says, The wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. (Isaiah 29:14)

Peculiar means not only “strange” but also “chosen, selected, and unique.” The King James Bible calls Christians peculiar in Titus 2:14 and in 1 Peter 2:9. Like Forrest Gump, we have been selected for great and marvelous works. In his simplicity, Forrest shames the wise. His goodness affects all those around him for good, and the audience treasures him for it. Why not become a fool for Christ and show your own peculiarity to those around you?

PRAYER IDEA: Praise God for creating you to be unique.


Excerpted from Reflections for Movie Lovers by Matthew Kinne, published by AMG Publishers/Living Ink, Chattanooga, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 

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