“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor 16:13). The “act like men” part really took me back when I read that verse recently.
As a child, I was in awe of the heroic men of the Apollo moon missions. Most of the astronauts were confident, humble men, who looked, by the way, like they should be adding up columns of numbers at a metal desk in an accounting office. “Just doing our jobs,” they would have said. Which so happened to be hurtling through space in a sealed capsule, risking life and limb to explore the universe, and hoping to return in one piece to planet Earth. I don’t recall a single astronaut emerging from his craft mouthing the words “I am the man;” ironically, proving what we could see all along: that he really was.
Men of God are made to be peaceful warriors: “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men” (Phil 4:5). Deep down we know this is true; that, therein, in the gentle spirit, lies true strength; that the ultimate essence of manliness is found in sacrifice; and that there is strength in weakness. Second Corinthians reads, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (12:10). And if that precious verse is the litmus test, there’s a lot of faux manliness swaggering about.
But make no mistake, though we are designed to be humble, we are also on a mission, as peaceful warriors, fighting for the cause of our great God. And though our weapons are unconventional to many—love and turning the other cheek are two of the strongest in our arsenal—because of who we are in Christ, when the cause is just, and when our faith and freedom are on the line, we will fight against evil with everything we’ve got.
Yes, we men of God are called to walk in humility: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). But we are also called to stand up for what is right to the glory of God. In other words, in all ways, we are called to act like men.
I hope this encourages you to stand up as a man of God today.
Kevin Murray
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This “Woman” so needed this message. Sometimes, many times, I find the walk into strength can cause weakness when we are confronted by others. I forget that Jesus was confronted constantly. Thank you, Kevin. I so enjoyed and needed this message this morning. May God continue to send messages through your heart.
That’s great to hear, Deborah. Well said!
This is awesome!!!!