Mans mission.

6/12/12
Being a man is a set of actions. For that matter being a son or daughter of God is a set of actions. It's a mission, an intention to work salvation to the world. Being a man is a set of responsibilities based off a set of beliefs. God reigns, and our actions should reflect that. We men are harbingers of truth, heralds and envoys of the coming king.

Men - I call you out. Be workers of the kingdom. You seek war, you seek battle, honor, something worth it, something to make your blood churn.
But you also feel unable, that the task is unclear, that somehow you may not measure up. It shows all the time. Little hesitations, mistakes made from fear, passed up opportunities due to doubt. We feel we should be something more.
Men, even those who feel like boys, even those who are young, you CAN be strong. How?
Have you not seen? Have you not heard? The Lord is a mighty whirlwind, his voice shakes the deserts and turns the seas to blood, the mountains melt like wax before him. And this God wants to make you his son. Nay, you ARE his son. And he has given you all the faculties and abilities to accomplish everything he asks of you. Even more, listen to these few things:

1 Do not listen to the world, to what the world expects of you, what it wants you to do. Test some of them, are they honorable? Are they actually useful? Do they build up or destroy? If you lived in a land, would it work to be destroying things all the time? GOD defines what is best. I repeat, GOD, and none other, GOD is the only one who can tell you anything worth a ****. He's MAKES the right path, the only path down which you will receive any honor. Follow him, my friends, follow him.

2 Which is more manly to do: punch a man who's offended you or forgive him? Which is easier? Which is harder? Anyone can lash out. Animals lash out, hurt people whimpering in corners can still lash out in anger and hurt. What is forgiveness? By forgiving someone you're saying 'that hurt, but it's still ok'. Why is it ok? Because you are a MAN, and you aren't threatened by every small insult or embarrassment. You know that you have it together because GOD is looking out for your reputation, and his opinion is the only one that matters. It is a strong man who can be insulted and yet forgive. By this you will confuse the one who offended you and cut him far deeper than a broken nose, you might even help him. Would you rather look back on a burning city and say 'yeah, I did that' or look back on a city that you built from the ground, a thriving place and say 'yeah, I did that'. Which is harder to accomplish? Anyone can destroy.

3 Has any video game you've played ever NOT included some sort of battle? Do you enjoy movies that don't have a struggle? Of course not! We're men. But so often we look at the Christian life and we think 'boring' because there's no battle. I don't want to be a 'nice guy' marshmallow for Jesus. I want to fight, I want a battle.
The battle is there, guys, and possibly more important than physical battle. It has to do with lies, and the father of lies, Satan. Wage war against lies and idols in your own life and in the lives of others. Which is better when you meet a man in battle, to kill him or to convince him to join you? In both cases you lose an enemy, but only in the latter do you gain a friend.
Lucifer is the father of lies, cunning as the snake and as hungry as a lion. Pray to God for wisdom and vigilance to uncover the lies that he has seeded deep in our souls and the souls of those around us and cut them to the ground with the sword of truth. And who is the truth? Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. Be sure to bring the sword of truth wherever you go.
And the battle is hard. Many fall asleep on the watchtowers. In real war, do you think they spend more days locked in battle or more days watching for the enemy to come and preparing themselves? Take note, my friends. Prepare yourselves for battle and stay alert.

4 Do you feel insufficient? Let me put this scenario before you. It is often, very often, useful to think of God as a father. A father knows the abilities of his son very well, and is trying to teach him more. Would the father ever ask his son to do something he couldn't? No. And if the son ever asked 'hey, can you teach me this?', in nearly all cases the father would be delighted to teach. In the same way, your heavenly father cares about you, knows your abilities, wants you to learn, and will never give you something you can't handle. He may want you to ask for his help, but he will never leave you cold.

So in conclusion, God defines your mission, to be warriors of truth wielding the sword of truth, obedient in all things to his command, knowing you are secure in him and so able to respond in a controlled way, always leaning on the lessons and strength given by God.