Manhood Part 2

When I think about what Biblical manhood looks like, several things come to mind.  First of all, I think of a WARRIOR. 

Dictionary.com defines warrior as:

1. a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier

2. a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness

Think about it, as men we are constanly engaged (or at least we should be!) in some sort of warfare.  If nothing else, according to God's Word, we are constantly at war with our flesh.  If that is the case, then God has prepared us for the war(s) we have to fight.  Deut 31:6 says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Another word that comes to mind is LEADER. 

I'll admit, some men are better leaders than others.  However, I challenge someone who says "John Doe is a natural born leader" as a way of describing one man's ability to lead vs. another man's perceived inability to lead.  Let me explain what I mean.  I believe EVERY man is born with the ability to lead.  In His Word, God tells men we are to be the spritual LEADERS of our household.  If God has called us to do something, He will equip us to achieve that calling.  Are some men better leaders than other?  Sure, but nonetheless, we have all been given the ability to lead.  We just need to call on God's strength to develop the leader within ourselves.

PASSION is another one.

As men, we are all passionate about something.  Too often, that passion is misguided.  We are passionate about our hobbies, our favorite team, our career, and our success based on worldly standards.  We should be passionate about the same things Jesus was passionate about...loving God and loving others.  We should be passionate about loving and leading our families.  We should be passionate for the Truth.  We should be passionate about living our lives in a way that makes others thirsty.  This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but just a few things God has been showing me.

I could go on, but I am stopping for now.  God has sufficiently beaten me about the head and shoulders with His holy 2x4 (that's just another way of saying God has really convicted me about some things)!  Suffice it to say that men are created to be WARRIORS who LEAD their family and others into a PASSIONATE pursuit of living out a life pleasing to God.

God, I ask you to help me become the man you have called me to be.  Help me to be a warrior for the Truth, for my family, those I love, and the defenseless.  Help me to lead my family and others to the foot of the cross in my daily actions.  I ask you to rekindle the flames of passion You ignited in my soul that I have smothered because of my selfishness.  I ask you forgive me for not being the man You have called me to be.  Jesus, help me to live out Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Jesus, my heart's desire is to hear you say on THAT day "well done my good and faithful servant."  Amen

Manhood

Men, what have we allowed the world to do to our manhood?  Think about it for a minute, how does the world portray men?  On television, men are made out to be, for lack of a better word, doofuses.  In the liberal media, you hear more about men who have had moral failures, a severe lapse in good judgement, displayed extremely violent behavior, or are involved in some other kind of deviant behavior.  At the very least, society has feminized men and negated the positive impact we have on the world.

Why don't we hear stories about the men that display Godly behavior?  Is it because not many men live up to that?  Is it because news like that doesn't have the shock value that sells advertising spots?  Is it a plot by Satan to neutralize the positive effects Godly men can have on society?  I believe all of these play a role in how society views men.

Sunday, I was confronted with what Biblical manhood looks like (thanks Kevin and Shannan for boldly proclaiming God's Word).  At the same time, I was convicted of areas in my life that definitely need work.  Going forward, I will be studying God's design for men and the specific commands He has for us as men/husbands/fathers/leaders.  As I walk through this, I will be posting thoughts, questions, and confessions.  Please join me in discovering what God expects from us as men and the changes we need to make to live out His plan for us.

Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:10 (NKJV)

Slip, Trip, and Fall

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 (NLT)

It doesn't surprise me; but it sure disappoints me the way people react when someone, especially a Christian, stumbles.  In the past few days, Randy Travis was arrested for public intoxication; and Josh Hamilton reportedly had a relapse with alcohol.  For most of today's stars, this news wouldn't have even hit the gossip rags, much less the major news outlets.  However, because of their public profession of faith, they now have a big bulls eye on their backs; and the world is waiting for them to make a mistake.  Knowing this, I believe I need to be diligent in lifting these high profile Believers up in prayer for strength to resist the temptations of the world.  I hate to think what the media would do should Tim Tebow have a weak moment!

While all this is definitely aggravating, it's also a time for my gut check.  How do I react when a fellow Believer stumbles?  Am I quick to judge?  Do I gossip?  Do I use it to mitigate my own failures?  OR Do I confront them in a spirit of love to help them get back on the right path?  Do I pray for them?  Do I encourage them?

I have to admit, I haven't always followed what God tells me to do in Galatians 6:1.  For that, I have had to ask for forgiveness.  Thankfully, God is a God of second (and third, fourth, and so on) chances; and, unlike the world, He is not lying in wait for looking for an opportunity to pounce when I make a mistake.

What about non-Believers?  Do I judge them?  OR Am I heart broken over their iniquities like Jesus is? 

When I started this post, I did not know this was where it was headed.  Laurie and I had a discussion today about something she read in Romans during her quiet time.  Here is part of it:

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?  Romans 2:1-4 (NLT)

Ouch!  God please forgive me for the times I've judged others.  I realize in doing so, I am way over-stepping my bounds and have sinned against You.  I am no better than they are.  I too was once lost; but thanks to You, I am now found.  Please give me a heart like Yours for those lost in their sin, and never let me forget that I am just a sinner saved by Your amazing grace! Amen

Undefiled Religion

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT)

Why did God say so much about taking care of orphans and widows throughout the Bible? 

I believe it has a lot to do with the fact that they can't pay me back.  If I am meeting the needs of those who have no resources to return the favor, then I believe I am showing the true, sacrificial love that pleases God.

Jesus said the greatest commandments are  to "love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:37-39 (NLT)

If loving God with all my heart, loving my neighbor as myself, taking care of orphans and widows, and keeping myself unstained by the world are the basics of what God expects, then I think that is what my focus should be.  This should be my first step in simplifying my walk with Jesus.

What Matters Most

For the past several months, I have been on a quest to simplify my life and to concentrate on the important things.  You see, I believe that we (interepreted I) have overcomplicated a lot of areas of our lives.  From my duties as a father and husband to my walk with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I feel as though I have strayed from those things that matter most.  The things that have the greatest impact.  The things that are important to God.  It is because of this quest to simplify life that I have begun to ask the question "what matters most?"  I pose that same question to you.  What does matter most in your life?  Are you too busy chasing the American Dream to take time to play a board game with your family?  Are you too busy with your hobbies that you forget your spouse needs to feel cherished?  Are you too busy playing church that you have forgotten our basic call as Christians?  Come on in, pour a cup of coffee, and sit a while.  Let's discuss what matters most.