In ANH, during the Battle of Yavin, 30 Rebel ships were sent out to destroy the moon-sized Death Star. After multiple attempts have been made to fire a photon torpedo down the exhaust port, Darth Vader and two TIE pilots went out and to destroy X-wings, ship by ship.
Luke is on his approach run when he experiences trouble. Darth Vader is on his tail and getting ready to destroy Lukeās X-wing. Just as Vader is lining up his kill shot, one of his TIE fighter escorts is blown out of the sky, initiating a crash that causes Vader to spin out of control.
Over his headset, Luke hears Han yell, āYou’re all clear, kid. Now let’s blow this thing and go home!ā With his pursuers destroyed, Luke takes the shot. He makes it, destroying the Death Star.
Luke was able to make this shot for three reasons.
First, he was an excellent pilot (he was able to bullseye womp rats as he flew his T-16 back home).
Second, he was gifted in the Force.
Third, he had help from Han that cleared away an obstacle.
We, too, have gifts and abilities.
Some are natural abilities, and some are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
To use them effectively, occasionally, we need help from a friend to complete tasks set out before us, just as Paul needed help from Barnabas.
In Acts 9, we read about the conversion of Saul to Paul.
Saul had plenty of natural skills and abilities(Philippians 3:4-6). He received the Holy Spirit(Acts 9:17). Yet when he went to Jerusalem to join the disciples, he was denied (Acts 9:26).
It was āBarnabas [who] took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesusā(Acts 9:27).
Who can we help today so they can be their best?
What help do we need to receive so that we can be our best?
