Strong Words for Weak Men
Well, I've been blogging for men for a year now, and I've taken the last month off of submitting entries. I've felt a need to stop talking so that when I do blog, I actually have something worthwhile to say.
Over the last month I have been particularly struck with the pain and frailty of we men. We are wee men in many ways. The truth is my interactions with my friends have all and only been with flawed and fallen men. I'm increasingly convinced there are no other types. Even men who have been redeemed from the fall, fall every day. My brothers-in-arms are in great pain from un-, under-, or dissatisfying- employment. They ache from relational wounds. They struggle under the strain of habitual sins and personal deficiencies.
So, for my first blog entry of my second year, I want to offer simple encouragement to my men, my brothers. I found a source of strength in the words of the Israelites recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:3. When Solomon dedicated the temple, the glory of God filled the temple and fire from heaven fell to consume their sacrifices. The verse says, "When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, 'He is good; his love endures forever.'"
Men, know and cling to this simple and profound truth, He is good and His love for you endures forever! Your constant failings, frailties, struggles and doubts don't change His love for you. When we get to the end of our short earthly lives, our summary statement will be "He is good, His love endures forever!" His love for you is stronger than your weaknesses. His love for you overshadows your sin and sadness. Know it, cling to it, rest in it, worship Him for it!
It's a fresh day, a new start, let's go! Fueled by His love! It's strong stuff!
Over the last month I have been particularly struck with the pain and frailty of we men. We are wee men in many ways. The truth is my interactions with my friends have all and only been with flawed and fallen men. I'm increasingly convinced there are no other types. Even men who have been redeemed from the fall, fall every day. My brothers-in-arms are in great pain from un-, under-, or dissatisfying- employment. They ache from relational wounds. They struggle under the strain of habitual sins and personal deficiencies.
So, for my first blog entry of my second year, I want to offer simple encouragement to my men, my brothers. I found a source of strength in the words of the Israelites recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:3. When Solomon dedicated the temple, the glory of God filled the temple and fire from heaven fell to consume their sacrifices. The verse says, "When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, 'He is good; his love endures forever.'"
Men, know and cling to this simple and profound truth, He is good and His love for you endures forever! Your constant failings, frailties, struggles and doubts don't change His love for you. When we get to the end of our short earthly lives, our summary statement will be "He is good, His love endures forever!" His love for you is stronger than your weaknesses. His love for you overshadows your sin and sadness. Know it, cling to it, rest in it, worship Him for it!
It's a fresh day, a new start, let's go! Fueled by His love! It's strong stuff!
Your comments remind me of a book worth reading by John Ortberg, "Everybody's Normal - Til you get to know them"
In an enjoyable way he focuses in on the fact that we all come with an "AS IS" disclaimer... so expect some flaws to become apparent eventually. We all got 'em, and community is edified when we stop thinking we can hide them. We all have to deal with our own and with others' .... until at last in Heaven they will either be gone, or we will see them rightly.
Just a thought.
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Great thought - we ought to try hard to remember it all the time with all our relationships, and with ourselves.
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I am starting a men's mentoring group at Mt.Vernon Baptist and I am looking for good ideas to kick us off and keep us going.
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Life is for the living. I was a little scared before surgery 'cause of the release you sign that says there's always a very small percent chance that you'll die during the operation.
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