REPRINT OF FEBRUARY 14, 2022
It seems everyone loves a beautiful sunset or sunrise. We constantly see posts on social media of the latest, greatest, most beautiful examples. They are complete with all the appropriate colors— yellows, oranges, reds, violets, and deep burgundies. At evening times, they bring restful and relaxing emotions. At dawn, they awaken freshness and the excitement of a new day with all its possibilities. We need that feeling every day, God’s new day, His gift to us to share with our world and for His glory.
We are in desperate need of some new dawns for our world today. Satan’s machine of evil, worldliness, and godlessness has clouded over and hidden God’s wonderful love for us. Many people do not see it anymore. Neither do they hear it from those who know God personally, but have given up sharing. Why? Maybe it’s fatigue or fear of repercussions. Whatever the cause, the fact remains that many of God’s people no longer share Him openly. Especially, men.
Where are God’s mighty men who stand up to speak, who sit and teach, who walk forward to lead the way? Do we need to get back to solid training and practice in the use of the armor that God has provided? Is your church providing the opportunities for these? Have you put out the call for leaders and other men of valor to join together and begin groups for this purpose? With trained leaders, your church can sponsor groups to study God’s Holy Word together verse by verse. Discover together the possibilities. Feed your men the meat of God’s Word and watch them grow. As your men brainstorm ideas to reach out to more men, do not be overly afraid of letting them try new things. Even a misstep can be a wonderful learning experience to grow from.
The world is doing its best to “sissify” men in general and eliminate Christian men in particular. It is time to stand up to the tiger, to stand against the wiles of the Devil, to believe God can. Our men need to be re-fit with God’s armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the footwear of readiness, the shield of peace, and prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Then we can stand against the devil’s schemes and bring Christ to this lost and dying world.
2 Samuel 3-5 reads, “The God of Israel spoke,…‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth. Is not my house right with God? Has He not made with me an everlasting covenant?’”
David had his “mighty men” (2 Samuel 23:8-12). Do you have yours? Have you begun their deliberate and specific training? Have they been issued their armor and begun the training in its use? Are they, along with you, ready for battle?
Pray that the young and old alike will step forward. Remember Caleb, “I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day” (Joshua 14:10-12).
Christian men, let us give our world, our churches, our families a new day dawning!
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