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The Paradox of Manhood
What an offer God makes. Wall Street never comes close. Lotto is never big enough. Accept Jesus as Lord by believing in your heart and confessing with the mouth and you live forever! Some of the promises that scripture shouts include: He loves you; you are never out of His sight; He cares about every detail of your life; He gave you the capacity to enjoy all kinds of pleasure; He has good plans for your life; He forgives you; and he is lovingly patient with you. God loves you more than you can imagine.
Most Christian men know these promises to be true in their head, but lack the conviction of heart to experience the fullness God says is there for the taking. There's talk of freedom and the abundant life, of peace like a river and joy unspeakable, but we see precious little of it, if we are honest.
Many of us get stuck in traffic on the road to eternity. We use the fog of life as the escape from "making every effort" in the pursuit of godly life style. The apostle Paul penned the rewards for this effort in 1Timothy 4:8: Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (italics mine). John Eldredge lends us insight. "When we hear the words eternal life, most of us tend to interpret that as a life that waits for us in eternity. But eternal means "unending, not later." Nice thought, eternity and its rewards start here. Kind of makes you want to get out of traffic.
Just a few days ago it appeared some fog lifted as our God4me Ministries was experiencing wonderful favor. It was a week of answered prayer and peace as the fullness of God was evident. Then the phones lit up as a friend Lou was taken down with a massive heart attack. Slam. Back in traffic.
Ever feel like the Christian life is one big test? One that we fail everyday. One that we're blowing big time. We feel like we're ducking when news of tragedy hits. Sometimes I feel like God said "set your mind on the things above" only because he knew how the things below would drive us crazy. Thoughts like, has God abandoned us? Did we not pray enough? Did we give nine percent instead of ten? Is this just something we accept as part of life and suck it up, even though it breaks our hearts?
It reduces us to the survivor mode, buying into the "hanging in there" lifestyle. After a while, the pounding of hit after hit that we do not understand, erodes our confidence that God is watching and protecting us.
Our hearts are attacked, as we do battle with the "Spirit of Fear"
What's a man to do? Well, lets look at two truths that have helped many men engage in battle and come out victors.
#1- Realize we live in a fallen world and we are at war. Until we come to terms with this as well as knowing that this life is a test, we will not understand life. Yes, Jesus said, "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." But, as Jesus uses John 10:10 to define the offer of Christianity, He also pinpoints Satan's mission: To Steal, Kill and Destroy. Who do you think he's after? That sound like war to me. But praise God that our Commander in Chief is just that, Chief!
#2- Men do not risk because they do not trust. They do not trust, because they constantly struggle with the knowledge of where they end and God begins. The Paradox of True Manhood is that victory comes through surrender and strength through weakness. Surrender does not weaken you; it strengthens you. By surrendering to God, you don't have to fear or surrender anything else. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said, "the greatness of a man's power is in the measure of his surrender".
Paul etched this truth in 2Corithians 12:9, which changed my life as I was healed of a thorn in the flesh. The apostle found such real strength through surrender that he actually bragged about his weakness. Here is God's answer to Paul's request to take away his problem. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Satan calls those fleeing words. I call that "Take your breath away scripture!" God calls it the abundant life.
Man of God, we all have tough questions. Throw-in-the-towel-questions. Questions the disciples must have asked. In this time of war, we may not have all the answers, but our surrender is in the One who does, as we find His strength through our weakness. We have victory knowing that our every move is "Father Filtered".
God4me Men's Network is a National alliance of Churches and Men's groups systematically training and assisting men in their pursuit of significance and purpose. "Discipleship Boot camps" are forums to provide encouragement, instruction and fellowship for the transformed man. Anointed speakers help men replace the lies of the world with Biblical truth. Upbeat and practical topics such as "Brainwashed", "A Man's Wild Heart", "The Purpose-Driven Man", and "As a Man Thinketh" are presented in a user friendly environment where men are free to "hear and respond". Movie clips and skits are used expressing the practicality of the topics. Food is served for time in fellowship, and short interactive workshops create a dynamic effective arena for change in men. Please visit Invasion for up to date information on events.
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