ROBERT: You know, living with you, it hasn't been easy. People see me but they think of you. Now with all this going on, it’s gonna be worse than ever.
ROCKY: It don't have to be.
ROBERT: Sure it does!
ROCKY: Why? You've got a lot going on, kid.
ROBERT: What, my last name? That’s the reason I got a decent job. That's why people deal with me in the first place. Now I start to get a little ahead... I start to get a little something for myself, and this happens. Now, I'm asking you as a favor not to go through with this. This is gonna end up bad for you, and it's gonna end up bad for me.
ROCKY: You think I'm hurting you?
ROBERT: Yeah. In a way, you are.
ROCKY: That's the last thing I ever wanted to do.
ROBERT: I know that's not what you wanna do, but that's just the way that it is. Don’t you care what people think? Doesn’t it bother you that people... are making you out to be a joke and that I'll be included in that? Do you think that’s right? Do you?
ROCKY: You ain't gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here. I'd hold you up and say to your mother: "This kid is gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid is gonna be somebody better than anybody ever knew." And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching, every day was like a privilege. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world... and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame... like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are... it will beat you to your knees and keep you there if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit... and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! If you know what you're worth, go and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers... saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him or her or anybody! Cowards do that, and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life.
We've watched as he was plucked out of obscurity by Apollo Creed and followed him through his boxing career.
In Rocky II, we saw the pain and anguish it took to deliver his son. Now his soon is an adult.
Earlier in this movie, Rocky saw his son get yelled at by Robert's boss.
While in a bar with friends, there is a televised ESPN simulation between Rocky and Mason "The Line" Dixon that shows the two boxing greats fighting one another in their prime. When the computer simulation shows Rocky winning, it sparks the idea of the two boxers meeting for real inside the ring.
Robert stops by Rocky's restaurant to discuss the upcoming fight (see side bar).
It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit... and keep moving forward.
Life Is Not Fair
If you read the whole book of Job, you will notice two things.
Life is not fair and God IS fair.
It is important not to confuse the two.
In John 16:33, Jesus states, "In the world you will have tribulation."
Life is NOT all "sunshine and rainbows." It is difficult.
The Christian life will be difficult at times, but we need to read the rest of John 16:33 which states, "But take heart; I [Jesus ]have overcome the world."
Living In Victory
There is a spiritual war raging in this world.
The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
What we need to know is that Jesus is victorious!
The book of Revelation shows up that, in the end, Jesus wins the war.
Until that time, there may be skirmish and battles that we lose, but the ultimate victory has already been secured.
Imagine that you have ever recorded a live sports event to watch later. Before you are able to, someone states, "I can't believe how they pulled out that last-second win!"
Now, while you are watching the recording, the ups and downs of the event don't really matter all that much since you know the outcome. The disappointing play does not cause you that much stress because you know how it end. They same could be said regarding life.
As believers, we know that in the end Jesus wins.
We can live in that victory now because it is guaranteed to happen.
Remember what Rocky said to his son, "It's about how hard you can get hit... and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"
We need to keep putting one foot in front of the other each day.
Movie Information
Release Date: December 20, 2006
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Antonio Tarver, Geraldine Hughes, Tony Burton
Genre: Sports Drama
Audience: Teenagers and adults
MPA Rating: PG
Runtime: 102 minutes
Distributor: MGM/Sony Pictures Entertainment
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Executive Producers:Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
ProducersSylvester Stallone, David Winkler, Kevin King, Charles Winkler, Billy Chartoff
The Motion Picture Association gave this movie a rating of PG.
As a Christian, there certainly portions of this movie that are the opposite of Philippians 4:8 where Paul tells us, "Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
I am aware that some of my fellow believers may not watch this film in its entirety. Hopefully, the scene and quote used in this devotional post allows someone to hear a non-believer make reference to this movie or quote and you, my fellow believer, can then use this devotional to bring in the Biblical truth this devotional shares.
Reel Devotions Rating and Review
My Review
I give this movie a thumbs up and 5 stars.
Rocky provides many inspirational lines in this film.
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Disclaimer
This is a fan site and is in no way associated with any of the companies that produced or distributed the movies. The views are mine and mine alone. Unless you count comments or a guest post. But you get the idea.
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