Original Entry:
October 5, 2011
McMinnville, OR
The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and
humility comes before honor. Proverbs
15:33
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12
My definition of
manhood is simply, “A man protects integrity, fights apathy, pursues God
passionately, leads courageously and finishes strong.”
I know a lot of men
who do four out of five but fail to “pursue God passionately.” Often these men are well respected in their
communities, good fathers, husbands and from all angles epitomize manhood.
However, they are
missing the mark of true manhood.
Pursuing God is the
foundation to truly becoming a man. I
will never forget that night I spent talking to a man I care deeply for. As I shared the dream of the Great Hunt for
God I threw out the definition of manhood. This loved one is a hard working
man, with a good heart, who loves his family, but life and its troubles has calloused
his heart towards God. He confesses
mental ascent to Jesus but an unwillingness to follow him.
He is not a godly
man.
“Bro, you know God
made you and formed you right? If you know
this then you need to realize that unless you completely surrender your life to
him you can never become the man He created you to be. You will always fall short of your full
potential as a man without Jesus.”
Through the dark mist
of that Jacuzzi I could not see his face but could hear his lip quiver as he
thoughtfully said, “Bro, you are right.”
Men it is, “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33).
It is the Lord who teaches the man how to be a
man, not the media or modern culture.
Life, the life every
man must have, only comes when a man fears the Lord and serves only him.
Paul said it best, “Work out your salvation with fear and
trembling.”
Fearing God is the
beginning of wisdom. It is the beginning
of manhood.
