“The world and its desires will pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” -1st John 2:17
A couple of girls on my squad have already written a blog about this but the Lord continues to put this on my heart and I can’t get past the facts. The two things that have been really irritating me and been on my heart lately are where are the Men of God and also the view of what a Man of God looks like.
The first question that is driving myself as well as several others insane is: WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN OF GOD? So many times on this race I have heard people say, “Why aren’t there more men on the World Race and in the mission field.” My squad alone consists of only 15 men and 44 women. SERIOUSLY? C'MON MAN!
The things I have experienced this year that I thought I would never have to see, are becoming a sickening norm. I have seen so many broken, fatherless families with many of these families living in extreme poverty. I have seen cities full of children, who grow up never knowing their father or even having a positive male influence. I have spent nights in the bars of the Philippines talking to women who are trapped in sex-trafficking, who day after day sell themselves to greedy, evil men. Most of these women come from fatherless homes or the unthinkable are put into this industry by their own fathers! I have heard numerous testimonies of people who have been molested and abused by male family members. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!
My question is where are the Men of God? The men, who value and honor others above themselves, especially when it comes to their own flesh and blood? Where are the men who want to bring the name of Jesus to everyone and make Jesus Christ the center of their lives as well as the lives of their families? The men who start each morning on their faces basking in awe and shear reverence of being worthy enough to be called a Son of the King. Have we as a society turned so far from what the view of a man looks like?
This brings me to my second pressing issue: The view the world has created of a Man of God. I feel like the concept of being a Christian Man of God to most means to be a nice quiet little boy who gets walked all over by everyone and misses out on all the fun in life. THAT’S BULL!
A couple of girls on my squad have already written a blog about this but the Lord continues to put this on my heart and I can’t get past the facts. The two things that have been really irritating me and been on my heart lately are where are the Men of God and also the view of what a Man of God looks like.
The first question that is driving myself as well as several others insane is: WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN OF GOD? So many times on this race I have heard people say, “Why aren’t there more men on the World Race and in the mission field.” My squad alone consists of only 15 men and 44 women. SERIOUSLY? C'MON MAN!
The things I have experienced this year that I thought I would never have to see, are becoming a sickening norm. I have seen so many broken, fatherless families with many of these families living in extreme poverty. I have seen cities full of children, who grow up never knowing their father or even having a positive male influence. I have spent nights in the bars of the Philippines talking to women who are trapped in sex-trafficking, who day after day sell themselves to greedy, evil men. Most of these women come from fatherless homes or the unthinkable are put into this industry by their own fathers! I have heard numerous testimonies of people who have been molested and abused by male family members. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!
My question is where are the Men of God? The men, who value and honor others above themselves, especially when it comes to their own flesh and blood? Where are the men who want to bring the name of Jesus to everyone and make Jesus Christ the center of their lives as well as the lives of their families? The men who start each morning on their faces basking in awe and shear reverence of being worthy enough to be called a Son of the King. Have we as a society turned so far from what the view of a man looks like?
This brings me to my second pressing issue: The view the world has created of a Man of God. I feel like the concept of being a Christian Man of God to most means to be a nice quiet little boy who gets walked all over by everyone and misses out on all the fun in life. THAT’S BULL!
When we as men step into our identities as Men of God, we truly come alive and begin living. The reason we don’t participate in what the world has labeled the “norm” for a man is because not only is it displeasing to God but the gratification you receive from the worldly things is incomparable to that of the everlasting gratification and joy you receive when you walk with Christ.
So what does a Man of God look like? Well let’s look at the men of L squad and maybe we can figure out what a Man of God is suppose to look like. On my squad there are athletes, musicians, surfers, singers, a skateboarder, an electronic genius, a former strongman, an aerospace engineer, and a former soldier. So looking at these 14 other men I am spending this month with, there is no clear mold of what a Man of God looks like. But if you look past the exterior you will realize that a Man of God is made up of the traits he displaces.
So what does a Man of God look like? Well let’s look at the men of L squad and maybe we can figure out what a Man of God is suppose to look like. On my squad there are athletes, musicians, surfers, singers, a skateboarder, an electronic genius, a former strongman, an aerospace engineer, and a former soldier. So looking at these 14 other men I am spending this month with, there is no clear mold of what a Man of God looks like. But if you look past the exterior you will realize that a Man of God is made up of the traits he displaces.
(bringing in the New Year with prayer from a roof in Phuket, Thailand with fireworks all around)
Looking at these guys I have seen and learned about how to have humility, discipline, love unconditionally, passionate, to put others first, strong-willed, and sympathetic. All of these qualities and several others reflect that of our Savior Jesus Christ. If we look in the Bible and read the qualities of Jesus we see what a Man of God looks like! (Now don’t get me wrong Jesus was perfect and no man no matter who he is will ever come close!) But when you walk with Jesus, you naturally radiate these qualities. Now I am not saying I am there. I am just kid from small town Berne, Indiana. But I am learning what it means and trying to become a true Man of God.
Being a Man of God doesn’t mean always being a quiet and peaceful man. On the contrary we are the ones who need to be making a difference and bringing war to the injustice and fight for those who cant fight for themselves.
The world needs to change and the only way for that to happen is for the men to change. PERIOD!
MEN OF GOD, I CHALLENGE YOU TO RISE UP! BE BOLD! CHANGE THE MOLD OF WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE! THE TIME IS NOW!
The world needs to change and the only way for that to happen is for the men to change. PERIOD!
MEN OF GOD, I CHALLENGE YOU TO RISE UP! BE BOLD! CHANGE THE MOLD OF WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE! THE TIME IS NOW!
