“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:11 (NLT)
In God’s Scripture, we read over and over that all are equal in His sight. Man or woman, slave or free, Jew or Gentile—His love covers all.
However, somewhere along the journey from when these words from God were first written down to 2021, something has become askew within our viewpoints and outlooks on this fact.
Men seem to somehow be arriving today in a “back seat” position when it comes to their relationship with their Savior and how He desires to move in and through them.
I don’t think anyone would argue the concept that men and women are wired differently when it comes to their faith. But maybe we haven’t done enough in each other’s company to highlight and engage some of the erroneous thought patterns that have come to be looked upon as commonplace within the body of Christ.
As a married man new to faith, I once stood beside my wife during worship and watched her move in expressive depth and outpour that I struggled to understand. Since then, I have been part of LifeGroups and men’s study gatherings where “gaps” have been spoken of concerning how men view their faith and look to advance their faith (if that is even on their to-do list). It all somehow comes off as men feeling like “second-class” disciples in following Jesus.
That is not God’s truth.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
What we must collectively recognize as men through that Scripture is that:
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We are not junk, nor second-class in God’s heart.
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We are new and improved in Jesus.
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God is working in us specifically to fulfill His plans.
You see, the struggle of acceptance is real. When was the last time you felt like a “masterpiece” on any level (and please don’t consider this description only through the lens of chiselled chins and six-pack abs)? And, as you walk daily down your life’s road—do you actually feel a true part of anything (and your pickup-league hockey team doesn’t really count in this particular consideration)?
Our Spiritual Enemy wants men to stay stuck wherever they happen to be in their Spiritual journey. And no matter if you happen to be a seeker, a new Christian, or even a long-time Christian, your Spiritual growth is an active point of contention every single day. That war is real. It is happening in and over every man trying to go (or should I say “grow”) forward.
We each were called into Salvation, not just to have our behaviours modified on the outside—like trying to follow some rule book to keep things civil on a playground. We have been invited to be “transformed” from the inside out. Even as we have come to live IN Jesus through His sacrifice on the Cross, we are all called higher through His resurrection, and a poured out Holy Spirit to now live LIKE Jesus. And through that active and intentional pursuit, we are empowered to then arrive at the best place of all, living FOR Jesus.
No matter where you may find yourself in your journey with Jesus, we all need to continually be making the important adjustment of “less of me and more of Him” within us. But, like a lot of things in our lives, it seems to need an initial kick-start to engage. The place to get that from is an honest understanding and acceptance of our value to the LORD, as stated earlier in Ephesians.
We will always be considering our true selves as men at the moment. But can we understand that GOD already sees us there? And in that understanding, can we finally accept that His love for us remains extravagant and doesn’t falter even as we might falter (today or tomorrow). His desire is for every man to be fully freed in Him, to stop being stationary and move on in their process of reconciliation.
Be not indifferent. Be not repressed. Be not discouraged.
It is time to fully understand and believe to whom you belong. The time to sit idly by in confusion or lies is long past. Men, your place is on the field, not on the sidelines.
Lori Boucher
This is so good! Well written, inspiring, and powerful! Thank you for this awesome post Rick!
Melanie Banks
I love the call to be on the field and not on the sidelines; what an amazing impact we can make together, men and women working shoulder to shoulder for the Kingdom! Thank you, Rick
Richard Green
Rick Davidson: That’s just awesome! I believe God honors you in the ‘yearning’ of a man’s heart.
I, too, have a ministry in there, turning over because of the plight of men. Those of us who have recognized our brokenness and submitted ourselves for healing recognize the brokenness in others even when they can’t see it in themselves. I’d make a few comments on your excellent article:
We have lost our identity as men, and we’re stuck in limbo, in a place of perpetual ‘niceness.’ No longer do we seek validation from the only One we should seek validation from. Instead, we look to other men or the women in our lives for validation. It might be good while things are good, but the minute things go awry, those who have validated us now have power over us because they can invalidate us. We will always be children of our King, and that didn’t change when we became men. Heaven is the place where I live my life only to please my Lord in the service of others.
We need to share our hearts and talk about the secret things that shame us so that we can lay them at the foot of the cross and ask Christ to remove the lie and speak truth over them. It is only in that place that we can be healed and become in Christ what we were always called to be – leaders in our family, in our church, in our community, our businesses, and any other places where we may serve. We see pride and arrogance and anger and indifference and low self-esteem and self-hatred and gloom and despair in so many men in so many circumstances. Like everyone else, we judge them, but in reality, those traits are only a symptom of some issue that is buried much, much deeper than that.
Lastly, I don’t believe we will ever confront or solve the male issues of diminished manhood (real or perceived) without investing time in trying to understand what happened to us. We didn’t get here by choice (many of us hate ourselves), so either we were pushed/directed into it or led into it as a reaction that caused the opposite effect. Someone once defined a man for me as someone who is a really, really nice guy. Sheeeesh! I don’t want to be that. I want to be who God always wanted me to be – naked in front of Him without hiding behind my fig leaf.
Thanks for your faithfulness. I believe the men in your circle love you for championing our cause and trying to move our identity needle closer to being more Christ-like. Well done Sir! Well done indeed!.
Max Paultre
Richard GreenRichard, your comments compliment Rick’s call to action so well. This is iron sharpening iron! Such inspiring, introspective, and encouraging words that should call men to raise up and step into the responsibility, servitude, and leadership our God has called us to. Raise up men, put on the full armour of God, for we fight against the principalities and powers, and in Jesus, we have victory! Thanks, Rick and Richard.
Rick Davidson
Richard GreenHi Richard.
I just had the opportunity to see your comment through a link provided by Max (who happens to be part of our particular Men’s HEARTstrong Small Group).
THANK YOU for lending your heart and thoughts! They are powerful and well-delivered. One of the things that I can testify to in all of my times gathering and discussing with other men over the last few years is this: when men are freed to feel safe to fully share and be transparent with themselves and each other – their words and thoughts are POWERFUL! Holy Spirit is truly ALIVE and WELL inside of each of them.
Pastor Joyce’s prophetic word recently during Lifecentre’s 40th Anniversary celebration spoke directly into this place. God wants to raise men up in His church – and Lifecentre is no exception.
We must be BOLD. We must STEP OUT and FORWARD. Become ENGAGED, even if it is only initially within ourselves. And NOW is the time – NOT some distant moment over the horizon.
May all of the Men that are part of HEARTstrong throw that encouragement to every man we know and encounter. Like a ripple on a still pond – fanning out wider and broader after that single stone is dropped in.
We need to be about His business!!
All the best bro.
Dele Ogunremi
Rick, thank you for such a powerful contribution. i love the title, to begin with. You spoke from the heart and backed it with the word of God. Yes, we are His masterpiece. Well said. As men, we must rise to the position of leadership that God has called us to, especially in our homes and in His Kingdom, to echo Richard and Max.
Thank you, Rick, for your faithfulness and leadership.