Real men think of the cross of Jesus Christ often and it should break us!
I was reminded again today of how important it is for us as men to live not only in the Grace that we have been given through the work of Jesus Christ, but also to live out the example of the Grace with others.
Often we struggle to have patience with the people closest to us and we tend to get frustrated and angry fast with them. What ever the situation, what ever it is that people are doing or are not doing is not really the issue. Rather the issue is that we have done far more to offend our Lord than anyone has done to us.
We have sinned greatly against God and when we loose it with people we continue to sin against God. Yet often we feel justified in our frustration and anger, because we are "right". Yet even in our "correctness" we can sin. Be reminded that Jesus puts up with all our garbage and yet He loves us and extends Grace to us. We rebel against God and want our own way. We blatantly decide to sin against others and God. We hurt people with our words and sit on our selfish pride. This is who we are as people and yet Jesus extends an invitation to us and keeps His word about His grace even when we are not faithful and obedient.
This is who we are called to be like ... Jesus! So we are called to have patience and grace for others. When we fail at this we are to become broken and repentant, not only to God but to those we have hurt. This will help us to walk with humility and to restore our relationships.
So every day take some time to remember the work of the Cross and be humbled by the greatness of Grace. Allow this to direct you and soften your heart toward others.
Keep fighting!
It all started with Fellowship Baptist Church HIT Men ministry. Honesty Integrity Transparency is what it is about. No holds barred, we will walk together through this life, challenging and encouraging each other in our faith!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Enemy #1 - Selfishness
We need to stand up and get real. Our number one enemy is not some other person, it is not the devil, it is ... Our own selfishness.
All of us need to come to terms with this and begin to look at life with a different perspective. Our lives are meant to be about God and His glory and then serving and caring for other people. All of the horrible things we do to others need to stop. I keep hearing about how life is not going well, about how other people or my spouse treat me poorly. Yes there are times when others are really being abusive and mean, but usually the problem is US!
Most of our issues stem from our lives not being the way we want them to be. You see as people we default back to being the centre of our own universe. The problem is that this position is reserved for God and not us. We are not even called to be right next to centre, we are called to the end of the line.
Men if you want your wife, children, friends family, church, etc... to respond better to your needs. Then start showing healthy leadership and beign tghe example of sacrificial servanthood and caring for all of their needs. It is time to MAN UP and lead things in a healthy driection. Be who you are supposed to be, not to get others to change, but because it is who you are to be. Then your example will speak for itself, much like the example of Jesus Christ speaks volumes to me everyday.
Stand up and take on Enemy #1, yourself!
All of us need to come to terms with this and begin to look at life with a different perspective. Our lives are meant to be about God and His glory and then serving and caring for other people. All of the horrible things we do to others need to stop. I keep hearing about how life is not going well, about how other people or my spouse treat me poorly. Yes there are times when others are really being abusive and mean, but usually the problem is US!
Most of our issues stem from our lives not being the way we want them to be. You see as people we default back to being the centre of our own universe. The problem is that this position is reserved for God and not us. We are not even called to be right next to centre, we are called to the end of the line.
Men if you want your wife, children, friends family, church, etc... to respond better to your needs. Then start showing healthy leadership and beign tghe example of sacrificial servanthood and caring for all of their needs. It is time to MAN UP and lead things in a healthy driection. Be who you are supposed to be, not to get others to change, but because it is who you are to be. Then your example will speak for itself, much like the example of Jesus Christ speaks volumes to me everyday.
Stand up and take on Enemy #1, yourself!
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