Real Men of Courage

Finish this statement - it takes a real man to_______________________________.

Run into a burning building? Jump out of a perfectly good plane? Step in the middle of a fight to break it up? Stop a robbery or assault? To fight for someone who can't defend themselves?

How about it takes a real man to lead his family in the way that God intended. In our culture it does take a real man to make a stand for how he leads his family. It takes a real man to take the lead in his home and give direction, protection, peace and love to his family. It's what our wives need and what they deserve at the least. And our kids, no matter how often they tell us otherwise by words or actions, need it as well. Too many men have surrendered their responsibilities as fathers and husbands because of a myriad of excuses: work, finances, pressure to be something someone expects, family pressures, etc.
Men, it's time to stop making excuses and take a stand for what we have been called to be and to do. It's time for God's men to stand up and take their families back  and lead them spiritually. 

But hear me on this - if you aren't doing this in your home now, you're going to have to 'earn' that right back from your wife and then your kids. You do this by putting your relationship with God into the proper perspective - First Place. That's what God demands and expects of us and our walk with Him.

I preached a couple of weeks ago and this came up as a reminder for all of us. The priority list for our lives will require some serious overhauling. Here's how that list should look:

1. God

2. Family

3. Church

4. The rest of the world (including job, status, wealth, etc.)

I've had to go through this 'transformation' of my priorities. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination. But it is possible. I'm not saying I've totally arrived, because I haven't. However, the rewards for taking the steps are literally priceless.

If you haven't already seen it, take a look a movie called Courageous. It came out last year and is a good reminder and starting point for all of us men to step up and back into our proper place.

I've been blessed to have a group of guys that I meet with start a study on this and it has been great - and we're just into the first week (plus). It never hurts us to stop life for a moment and reflect back on where we are, where we've been and where our direction is taking us. This study is helping do that for me and for some of the guys.

What do real men do? What do real men look like today? How about we start reshaping the picture of that by becoming men of God; men of courage; men of integrity; men who love their wives and kids!

Joining the fight with you...