“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, something became askew from when these words were written to 2021: our viewpoints and outlooks on this fact.
Men seem to be somehow arriving today in a “back seat” position regarding 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 down your life’s road daily, do you feel a genuine part of anything (and your pickup-league hockey team doesn’t 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 happens in and over every man trying to go (or should I say “grow”) forward.
As we come to live IN Jesus through His sacrifice on the Cross, we are called higher through His resurrection and a poured-out Holy Spirit to now live LIKE Jesus. 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. Through that active and intentional pursuit, we are empowered to 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 make the critical adjustment of “less of me and more of Him” within us. But, like many things in our lives, it seems to need an initial kick-start to engage: an honest understanding and acceptance of our value to the LORD, as stated earlier in Ephesians.
We will always be considering our authentic 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 (today or tomorrow)? His desire is for every man to be fully freed in Him, to stop being stationary and move on in their reconciliation process.
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.
