Not You!

“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” — Titus 2:6-8

In the movie The Great Debaters (Washington, D. 2007. MGM), the debate team witnesses a horrific lynching in route to a debate. In response, team member, Henry Lowe goes on a wanton drinking binge and comes back to the apartment plastered. He gets into a fight, with his fellow team member, James Farmer Jr. where he shares with him the “facts of life” in the Jim Crow South. James breaks down and responds, “So it doesn’t matter how good we are, does it? …This is all useless. …We’re just a bunch of Negroes debating each other on subjects we all agree on.”

Henry recoils at the statement with, ”No, no, no, James, don’t talk like that, all right.”

James: “Why not?”

“Because you can’t,” Henry insists, “Not you.”

James, the alternate and best researcher for the team, also had the moral clarity the rest of the team lacked. Despite Henry’s wanton night out, he couldn’t stomach James faltering. James was everything good Henry hoped for his people. James goes on to give the closing debate argument that wins the nationally broadcasted debate with Harvard (in reality it was with USC).

The movie is one of my favorites, but this scene rarely gets mentioned. However, it shows the type of person we are called to be in the world. We are to be the one others look to as an anchor, the “not you” in their lives.

Titus 2:6-8 exhorts us to be “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned…”. We are to be the person others can look towards for hope and inspiration. Not out of our own power or ability, but as the book of Titus continues, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, …” (v. 11-12).

God’s desire is to work through our lives to teach us and work through us to be His light in the world. We are called to be the moral guideposts for those around us. We are called to be an inspiration and beacon of hope. Not out of our own power, but by the grace of God teaching us and working through our lives.

However, we often get discouraged, selfish, depressed, angry and on it goes. Name the emotion. Wherever you are on the emotional rollercoaster of life, God desires to work through you today. Not just for your own good, but for the good of all those you love and impact in life.

I know you may be dealing with some of those negative emotions right now. I’m here today to tell you, you can’t think like that! NOT YOU! You are a child of God, and the living Lord desires to live through you in this moment to cast hope into your world. Allow the grace of God to teach you in this moment how to live and love. Because the world might seem to be falling apart, but in His hands NOT YOU!

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.