In step

[RiverOL]

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn – Part 2

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."1

We ended yesterday's devotional with how God met me where I was one night and allowed me to understand the story of Job in new ways. Today we are going to look at a few of the points God brought to my mind.

First, God did not allow all these things in Job's life to punish him for his disobedience. Rather, God allowed it because of Job's faithfulness. God tells Satan this: "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."2 God uses every situation in our lives as a testimony. When we are faithfully seeking God, we become a threat to the devil and he sees the need to attack us. If we don't suffer attacks, perhaps we should be worried!

Second, God had to give Satan permission to touch Job. The Bible says, "The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."3 Later, Satan asks permission to touch his skin, and God gives him permission but tells Satan to spare his life. God has complete control of our lives even when we feel that everything is out of control. As Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Nothing can touch us unless God allows it, and if He allows it, you can be sure it is for a purpose.

Third, Job kept his integrity. In Job 2:9 his wife tells him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job's response is simple yet powerful. He answers in Job 2:10, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Although we may not understand what God is doing or why he is allowing the pain, it is important to recall all the blessings and not only the struggles. God is good. God is God and we are His children. During the 5 months I carried my son, I found myself often telling God, "Even if this hurts, I still love you. I can't do this alone." When we keep honoring God in the midst of trials, God will show up in powerful ways.

Tomorrow we will conclude this series on mourning.

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, in times of pain and suffering, allow me to know that you are still in control. Help me believe that if you are allowing this in my life, it is for a purpose. I choose to keep honoring you while I wait for the outcome. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn – Part 3

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept."1

Today we will conclude our series on mourning, but first there are a couple more things for us to see.

In Job chapter 3 we see the extent of Job's pain. He is in a full state of mourning. In verse 26 Job says, "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." The next few chapters we see an ongoing conversation with his friends. We will not go into all of the details, but in Job 16:2-5 Job tells them, "I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief." After Job had listened to his friends going on and on, discouraging instead of encouraging, he finally speaks up. In his response we see how he exalts God continually, even amid the deep pain he was experiencing.

After so much suffering, Job 38:1 says, "Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm." This verse was an important reminder for me in my time of sadness. In the darkest valley, God is there. Even when we can't bring ourselves to pray, God is there. In the midst of the storm, He speaks love and mercy to us.

Another scripture that God reminded me of was the key verse for today. Mary and Martha send word to Jesus that his friend Lazarus is sick, but he intentionally waits two days before going to him. Jesus knows that Lazarus will die and that he will raise him from the dead, and he also knows that God will be glorified through all of it. When he arrives and sees Mary and Martha weeping along with others, he was deeply moved and troubled. Then something interesting happened. He allowed himself time to weep! Again, Jesus knew that he would be raising Lazarus from the dead, but he felt the pain and allowed himself to mourn with those who were mourning. Jesus loved Lazarus and he gave himself freedom to mourn.

Friends, Jesus feels when we are hurting, and I am sure he weeps with us as well because he loves us. In a time when I needed to hear that it was okay to cry and be angry at the situation I was experiencing, God showed up in a meaningful way to assure me that it was okay and that He wouldn't love me less for allowing myself the time to mourn. I experienced God in a whole new way during that time. There were days where I could feel him holding me and whispering words of hope in my ear. Did I lose faith through this? Not at all. On the contrary, my faith grew stronger and I was able to understand that God would use my experience to glorify himself as well.

My prayer has changed over the past few months, and I encourage you to cling to these words just as I do: "Dear God, thank you for loving me and holding me even in the darkest storm. Allow me to give myself time and grace to feel what I need to feel in every season. I choose to believe that you will use the situation I am in to reach others for you. You are my strength and my hope. I cling to you and trust that you will carry me through. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen."



1. John 11:33-35 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Gotta Get Humble

. . . count others more significant than yourselves—Philippians 2:3

Let’s first get straight on what “getting humble” is not. It’s not trying to think poorly of ourselves or denigrating ourselves or anything like that. It actually involves taking the focus off ourselves. Getting humble is checking our tendency to think ourselves better than others, or more important, valuable, worthy of time or mindshare or respect. Getting humble is shutting down our tendency to "size people up” and position them on some scale—based on money, title, education, geography, whatever. Getting humble is recognizing all people as the careful works of God, equally worthy of love and sacrifice. Getting humble is counterintuitive, and it moves against prevailing culture. You see, we men want to feel successful, important—and have others consider us so. Culture trains us, therefore, to promote ourselves; to be strategic with our time and attention; to let positions determine our treatment of others. This training is foolish. It misses the sense and strength of humbleness. Imagine someone humble. They’re often fearless, able to act on convictions, rather than trying to impress. Their decision-making is often sound, unclouded by insecurity or prejudice. They listen and welcome honest differences. They abide critics, crushed not by their criticism. They’re often magnetic, treating all people with respect. They engender loyalty, camaraderie. King Solomon wrote, “with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). We want to work with humble people. We want to work for them and have them work for us. We want them as spouses, friends. But, mostly, we should want to get humble ourselves.

Practice getting humble. Choose something this week: initiate a conversation and listen more than you talk; serve in a way that’s mundane or difficult (unpleasant, even); help someone anonymously; give someone the credit they deserve (even if you deserve some too).

 

[RiverOL]

Persistence

"It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others], and so we never give up."1

Glen Weber wrote how "the first transcontinental flight across the country from New York, NY, to Long Beach, California was completed by American aviation pioneer Cal P. Rodgers in an early Wright flyer called the Vin Fiz after a soft drink company that sponsored the trip. On September 17, 1911, he left Sheepshead Bay at Brooklyn, NY, and arrived in California on December 10, 1911, 84 days later. Rodgers actual time in the air was 3 days, 10 hours and 14 minutes. The airplane was forced down by weather and mechanical failure more than 30 times resulting in 'light crashes' to crashes that required major repairs. When Rodgers landed in Long Beach, the only original parts on the airplane were the rear rudder and the oil pan on the engine. I would have given up the first time I lost my wings."2

That's determination and persistence! Obviously Cal Rodgers had a mission that he was determined to fulfill and a goal he planned to reach. Men and women like this are the ones who make things happen. They never give up.

As Christians who have the Good News of the gospel—the greatest news and message in all the world—we need to be more determined than ever to live and spread the gospel message especially in this day of ever increasing terrorism motivated by false religion, and an ever-increasing moral decline promoted by those who are determined to tear down all moral standards as set by God for the good of all mankind.

As the Apostle Paul said, "It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others], and so we never give up!" An excellent admonition for every day of the year.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so I will clearly see and understand fully all that is happening in today's world that seeks to destroy Christianity and all that your Word teaches (including the killing of Christians), and do everything in my power to live for you, to demonstrate my faith in my daily life, and do all I can to spread the Good News of the gospel to my neighbors and to the far ends of the earth. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Self Deception

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."1

You may have heard the story about the elderly woman who, when sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist, noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.

Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class some 40-odd years ago. Could he be the same fellow that she had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, she quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way, way too old to have been her classmate.

After he examined her teeth, she asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

"Yes. Yes. I did. I'm a Morgan Mustang," he gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" she asked.

He answered, "In 1959. Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class!" she exclaimed.

He looked at her closely and then asked, "What did you teach?"

How easy it is, when meeting old friends we haven't seen for many years, and think to ourselves how much they have aged, not even imagining that they might be thinking the exact same thing about us. And amazing how easy it is to see "the speck of sawdust" in another's eye but fail to see "the plank" in our own eye.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to get real about my own self with all my sins and faults so that I will not be judgmental of others. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Jesus, in Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Words of Honor

Outdo one another in showing honor—Romans 12:10

To honor someone is to build them up, to give them a sense of their worth. Prevailing culture teaches us our worth is weighed by worldly measures. And so, “honoring” becomes hero worship—elevating those good at projecting worldly success and marginalizing those of us with flawed lives, with failures in our past, or who are simply unable or unwilling to devote enough effort to convincing the world of our success. This type of “honoring” is not what God intends. We lead each other astray when we engage in it, because the focus is so wrong. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). To honor someone as God intends is to build them up and give them a sense of their true worth. It’s trying to see them as God sees them. It’s pushing right through the confusion of worldly measures—successes, failures, talents, faults, wealth, poverty, titles, appearances—looking for evidence of what God has done in and through them, and what he’s doing currently. And, finally, most importantly, it’s telling them what we see. Our edifying, encouraging words to one another are gifts from God. He allows us to give them to one another . . . and we must.

Ask God to help you see those around you as he sees them. Look for how he’s working in and through them. And . . . then . . . tell . . . them. Tell them what you see. We men tend to struggle with the telling. We can be married for years, or in community with other men for years, and never simply tell those closest to us what we see in them. So, pick someone this week and tell them what you see. Honor them with a glimpse of his/her true worth.

 

[RiverOL]

Compassion and Kindness

"Be kind and compassionate [tenderhearted] to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."1

Michael Josephson of Character Counts shared how he "once read of a man on a subway with two young children who were being loud and unruly. The man seemed to ignore their behavior, so a fed-up passenger confronted him: 'Sir, don't you see how your children are disturbing everyone? How can you be so thoughtless?'

"The man sobbed, 'I'm so sorry. Their mom just died and I've been thinking of how we'll live without her.' In an instant the critic's self-righteousness turned to self-condemnation.

"Why is it that so many of us have to be hit over the head before we turn on our caring and empathy buttons?

"The next time you have the choice between being right and being kind, choose kindness."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me an understanding and compassionate heart so that I will always be kind when what is needed is understanding and kindness so that I will be 'more and more like Jesus in every way.' Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

The Voice of God Within

"God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"1

"In his classic novel Crime and Punishment, Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky tells the story of a young man who rejects the existence of God. This young man murders an old woman. Believing there is no righteous God who will judge, and therefore no absolute standard of right and wrong, he knows that he should not feel guilty. However, he is consumed with a sense of guilt until he confesses his crime and hands his life over to the God he once rejected."2

In many cases, if not in most, atheism is more likely to be a moral issue rather than an intellectual issue. If one believes in God, he knows that he is morally responsible and cannot live as he pleases without struggling with a guilty conscience. On the other hand, if one doesn't believe in God, he rationalizes that he is not morally responsible to anyone and can live according to his own rules or as he pleases. In living this way there is always the danger of deadening one's conscience and silencing the voice of God within.

If there weren't a God—a Higher Authority—why would we even have a conscience and instinctively know that we are morally responsible and accountable?

The very first sentence in God's Word the Bible says, "In the beginning God…."3 and later it says, "for in him we live and move and have our being."1 Either we believe in God or we become a god unto ourselves and live according to our own standards. Imagine the chaos and destruction if everyone in the world lived as a law unto himself.

The critical issue for all of us is that we know God and live according to his standards as found in his Word, the Bible, for "blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."4

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so that I will see and know that You are the God of all creation—which includes me—so that I can and will say to You in all confidence, 'My LORD and my God.' Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Acts 17:27-28 (NKJV).
2. Joe Boot, Searching for Truth, © 2002. Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com. Cited on "A Slice of Infinity," www.rzim.org/slice/slice.php
3. Genesis 1:1.
4. Psalm 33:12 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Want More Persevere(ability)?

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour—1 Peter 5:8

The ability to persevere—to remain strong and steadfast in the face of difficulties and delays and distractions—is a fundamental skill, necessary for any man choosing to devote himself to our King, Jesus Christ. He showed us how in the wilderness and against the temptations that followed (Matthew 4:1-11). Like him, we too must bear up against the pressures of the world, and not only for a while, but until the very end of our days. Though any one trial or temptation may be short lived, there’s always something out there capable of our destruction. Preparedness is paramount. You see, when we’re unprepared and trouble comes (at work, in our relationships, our finances, our health) it takes us down: into anxiety, anger, bitterness, despondency, depression, isolation. When we’re unprepared and temptations come (material, carnal, moral) they too take us down: away from God and into sin. Compounding our lack of preparedness, the enemy is always quick with interference and misinformation. “You won’t make it.” “This’ll be long and difficult . . . too long, too difficult for you.” “You’re alone, forgotten.” “You won’t have strength enough to persevere.” “You should just give-up/give-in now, and avoid the grief of waiting, just to give later.”

Perseverance isn’t innate; it’s learned. All of us can do it if we train. So, brother, manufacture some pressure and train yourself. Push your limits, physically, mentally, spiritually: climb a tough summit; tackle a hike of many miles; fast for a period of days; turn devices off and embrace quiet and solitude and prayer for an uncomfortable period. Remember, God designed you for perseverance. So, by training, you’ll simply learn what you’re made of (plus you’ll expose the lies of the enemy). It doesn’t take much to learn a whole lot about yourself.

 

[RiverOL]

People Pleasers

"In the temple courts he [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!'"1

Of one thing we can be certain: Jesus was not a "people pleaser." The reality is that "people pleasers" inevitably end up getting frustrated and angry because they are not getting the response they want from trying to please everybody, and ultimately end up pleasing nobody.

It isn't possible to please everybody. When we try to, we do it out of our own need for approval—an empty substitute for love. As one person said, "If you have to stand on your head to make others happy, all you can expect to get is a big headache."

Or as another put it, "If you stand for something you will have some people for you and some against you. But if you stand for nothing, you will have nobody against you—and nobody for you."

As already noted, Jesus was not a "people pleaser." He stood for truth and right regardless of what anybody thought of Him. May God help you and me to do the same.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to find inner security both in Your love and that of others so I will not be searching for love and approval by trying to please everybody. Deliver me from this bondage. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Jesus (John 2:14-16, NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Pressing Toward the Goal

The Apostle Paul wrote, "One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things."1

According to Peter Wagner, "Goal setting is a risk. One of the most comfortable things in the world is to have no goals, because then there can be no failure. It is equally comfortable to define your goals in terms of what you happen to be doing at any given time. If you shoot first, then draw the target around the bullet hole, you'll never miss the bull's eye. If someone looks later, he might even call you a good marksman." Some people have developed this technique very well. Their goals are set more by their own inclinations than by carefully formulated biblical priorities.

Having a clearly defined goal is the first step towards the success of anything. However, according to motivational specialists only three percent of people have a major goal for their life. Without this we are like a rudderless ship. Instead of our setting the direction of our life, we let the winds and tides of the times take us where they will. As someone has said facetiously, "Blessed be he who aims at nothing for he shall surely hit it!"

As with the Apostle Paul, God has a specific goal for each one of us. It is our responsibility to discover what that goal is and work towards achieving it. And as Paul said, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things."

"Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have a specific purpose and goal for my life. Please help me to discover what that is and give me the desire, courage, and direction to help me work towards fulfilling that goal. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Emerging from Isolation

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them—Matthew 18:20

Imagine, for a moment, a man ever isolated, living alone in the mountains, perhaps. Imagine him living a vigorous, adventurous, spiritual life, but lacking community. The knowledge this man would have of God, the knowledge he’d have of himself, would be modest compared to the knowledge he’d have of both, were he to have full access to relationships, friendships, brotherhood. You see, the isolated man may know about God. But, no matter how much he might read and study, he cannot know God. That takes community. We get to know God by seeing his Holy Spirit moving in others. We encounter God, we experience him, we understand him when he works through the love and sacrifice of other people. In brotherhood, we get to show God to one another. And, the more we’re in community with brothers, the deeper our understanding becomes. The isolated man may also know about himself—his talents, his likes, his dislikes. But, he cannot know himself. He cannot know the man God intends him to become. That too takes community. It takes others around him, who know his story, who spend time with him, who watch him, to discern and affirm and call forth things true and eternal in him, things God longs for to emerge. It takes brotherhood to call forth the true man.

Though we live in cities and towns, many of us are yet like the man isolated in the mountains. We know about God, but we don’t know him. We know the men we’d like to be, but we don’t know the men he created us to be. This message, right now, is another call for brotherhood. It’s a call for you, brother, to get into community with other men. Find some brothers; find your place.

 

[RiverOL]

Trust No One

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts—Psalm 28:7

The Apostle Paul set a challenge before us: “having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). No small thing, that one. We men have such a hard time with transparency, with vulnerability. “I don’t know you guys that well.” “I have a hard time trusting other people.” “I don’t know everyone here.” These and objections like them surface naturally in men facing the prospect of being transparent and vulnerable with brothers in community. We’ve all said them, in some version or another. But, this approach, of hesitating and waiting to open up, waiting to tell our brothers what’s really going on, what we’re afraid of, what we’re struggling with, until we have complete trust of the men we’re opening up to, is foolish and based upon misplaced trust. You see, we can trust no man completely. All “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). So, waiting for complete trust means waiting for something that’ll never happen. We’re all broken, capable of wickedness even toward those we love most. God, however . . . God is not. So, in him and in him only, brother, should we put our trust (Psalm 118:8). He calls us to be transparent, vulnerable with others, so we must. Now, it might not always go well (at least from our perspectives). That’s okay. It’ll go well from God’s perspective—our obedience to him always does. And, he knows better than we.

Next time you meet with a brother or two or three, look around. Which of them do you trust more than God? In that moment, tell yourself: “I trust God. So, I know what I must do” No more lies. No more pretending. No more posturing.

 

[RiverOL]

Solve the Scripture Problem

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path—Psalm 119:105

We must read Scripture, brother. God chose those words for you and for me. “Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us” (Romans 15:4 MSG). God chose those words, carefully, so we could read them. And he designed us to need to read them. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Most of us can do better—reading Scripture more and with more regularity. Figuring out how is the problem. But it’s a problem we should approach with excitement and intentionality and optimism, not with guilt or reluctance or resignation. It’s a problem we should approach with creativity, recognizing our unique designs and identities, our unique preferences and tendencies—for the solutions to the problem are as unique and varied as we are.

Don’t know where to start? Try one of the many reading plans on the free YouVersion mobile app. Can’t find time? Try listening, in the car or at the gym, to one of the several audio versions on the free Bible.is app. Struggle with consistency or motivation? Try the daily reminder feature of the free BibleGateway app or the tracking and/or group accountability features of the free Bible Companion and ReadingPlan apps. Don’t like archaic language? Try The Message version, available free on YouVersion and BibleGateway. Can’t remember what you’ve read? Try the free Fighter Verses memorization app. Something else? Work those masculine problem-solving skills to forge your own solution. Then, execute it. And, remember, this is about a relationship, not about rules or the “right way.” It’s about making a little room for God to speak to you through Scripture. It’s about connecting with God, today.

 

[RiverOL]

Get Finally Unstuck

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity—Proverbs 17:17

“I’ve got this.” It’s a phrase used often by men, in one form or another. We say it to ourselves; we say it to others. And, most times, we have got whatever “this” happens to be. Every once in a while, though, we encounter something we cannot handle, something we haven’t “got.” Of course, that doesn’t always diminish our willingness to make our “got this” claims still. You see, “I’ve got this” often originates from our need to project images of manliness and self-sufficiency. And so, “I’ve got this” can become a stubborn habit. Even when it becomes obvious to us (and maybe everyone else) that we, in fact, haven’t “got this,” we sometimes continue right on in our stubbornness, telling ourselves that—from now on—we simply must try harder. The truth is, some things are too big for us. But, because truth isn’t always welcome, we often cry out to God instead: “Why can’t I get beyond this?” “Why won’t you help me?” Well, brother, he has helped. He’s given us what we need to overcome even seemingly intractable problems. “. . . though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). While some things are too big for us alone, none is too big for Holy Spirit-infused communities of men—standing together, praying together, holding each other accountable, keeping one another encouraged.

 

[RiverOL]

One Word to Start Over

. . . for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned—Matthew 12:37

Men sin. We all do. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Fortunately, it’s not our sin that keeps us from God’s forgiveness. It’s our unwillingness to recognize it, to deal with it, which does that. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We must, therefore, confess . . . and regularly. That is easier to say, of course, than to live. Confession is hard. Giving voice to words describing our sin is hard. We often think that just saying them, naming our sin, will somehow make it more real. We think naming our sin will put more of its taint upon us. Brother, it’s real. Its full taint is upon us already. And there’s no path to forgiveness and taint removal, except first through confession. But it’s not actually confession if we never say the words—if we obfuscate or talk around the sin. Naming it, simply and plainly, pulls it up and out of the tangle of denial and confusion. It places our sin in the open, where we can see it, where we can paint a target on it, where we can finally bring the power of the Holy Spirit and community against it.

Reduce your struggle with sin to one word: Pride. Self-centeredness. Hard-heartedness. Indifference. Resentment. Rage. Greed. Dishonesty. Lust. You choose your word. Be honest. Once you have it, say it aloud. Gather some brothers. Pray for courage, then go around, each man saying only their one word. Pray again, this time against the words spoken. When the time is right, go deeper and explain the meanings behind the words.

 

[RiverOL]

Rallying Cries

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong—1 Corinthians 16:13

When we men gather, our gatherings should be about something. Without a something, brotherhood doesn’t last. There are, of course, plenty of possible such somethings: we gather to watch sports, play sports, talk sports, talk politics, discuss philosophy, drink coffee, drink wine, drink beer, hunt, fish, golf, bike, hike, and many other things. Some of us, though, believe there’s one something that stands well above the rest—a great cause—to follow our King, Jesus Christ, which includes fighting for ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors, and engaging an enemy that “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). It’s an honor that we’ve been called to such a cause. But, just as men are apt to allow their attention to drift and to lose focus over time, so are groups of men. We must, therefore, be intentional about maintaining purpose, about maintaining alignment with one another, and about maintaining morale and increasing mettle toward opposition and hardship. One approach is to borrow an ancient technique: the rallying cry. It requires we simply consecrate, and then adopt, a few well-chosen words that capture what we stand for, words that reflect our agreed upon priorities, and that rally us always back to God’s (and now our) great cause.

Decide today what you and your brothers are about . . . decide your something. Ask yourselves, what brought us together? What’s our purpose in being together? What are our priorities toward one another? What do we care about? What makes us unique? If you’ve never thought about these things, now’s the time, brother. Keep it fun. Set aside some time to pray together and to listen. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Then collaborate and iterate and formulate your group’s rallying cry.

 

[RiverOL]

Solve the Scripture Problem

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path—Psalm 119:105

We must read Scripture, brother. God chose those words for you and for me. “Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us” (Romans 15:4 MSG). God chose those words, carefully, so we could read them. And he designed us to need to read them. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Most of us can do better—reading Scripture more and with more regularity. Figuring out how is the problem. But it’s a problem we should approach with excitement and intentionality and optimism, not with guilt or reluctance or resignation. It’s a problem we should approach with creativity, recognizing our unique designs and identities, our unique preferences and tendencies—for the solutions to the problem are as unique and varied as we are.

Don’t know where to start? Try one of the many reading plans on the free YouVersion mobile app. Can’t find time? Try listening, in the car or at the gym, to one of the several audio versions on the free Bible.is app. Struggle with consistency or motivation? Try the daily reminder feature of the free BibleGateway app or the tracking and/or group accountability features of the free Bible Companion and ReadingPlan apps. Don’t like archaic language? Try The Message version, available free on YouVersion and BibleGateway. Can’t remember what you’ve read? Try the free Fighter Verses memorization app. Something else? Work those masculine problem-solving skills to forge your own solution. Then, execute it. And, remember, this is about a relationship, not about rules or the “right way.” It’s about making a little room for God to speak to you through Scripture. It’s about connecting with God, today.

 

[RiverOL]

Avoid the Stink!

"As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor."1

When we think of Judas Iscariot, we picture the man who betrayed Jesus. However, Judas most likely didn't begin his journey with Jesus with betrayal in mind, but his greed was something that developed over time and it consumed him to the point of betraying Jesus. In John 12:4-6 we read Judas' reaction after Mary anoints Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume. "But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 'That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself." The sin of greed and theft had become "normal" for him and eventually led him to betray Jesus. His sin didn't even allow him to see the beautiful moment that was taking place right in front of him!

Our relationship with Christ can be affected either positively or negatively by our choices. Many times, we continually indulge in "little" sins and fail to realize it because they have become a habit without us realizing it. Things such as lying, gossiping, jealousy, greed, pride… these are all areas that Satan uses to hook us. Then after we are spiritually weak, Satan sends a bigger temptation our way and we fall. There is no such thing as little sins for God. A sin is a sin and the consequence is separation from God (spiritual death).

Let's take a moment to reflect on what we are nurturing in our hearts. Are we harboring negative habits or behaviors? Are we stuck in a cycle of sinning without even realizing it? It is important that we acknowledge and confess these to God. Not only might these little sins add up to a larger problem later, but they will also hinder our spiritual growth and make us ineffective right now. God wants us to be men and woman of great wisdom and honor, so let's not allow our "dead flies" to cause a stink in our heart and prevent us from being used by God.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of my heart to see the little sins I may be harboring unknowingly. I ask forgiveness for allowing myself to be distracted by these, and I leave them at your feet now. I ask that you create a new heart in me that will reflect you. I pray that you would guard my heart and my mind from the little things that Satan may try to use to make me ineffective in serving you. You are my God and I surrender my life and will to you only. Use me for your glory I pray. Gratefully. In Jesus' name. Amen."



1. Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NLT).

 

[RiverOL]

Cordless Jump Rope

"For the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."1

In his Thought for the Day in June 02, 2006 devotional, Alan Smith said, "Perhaps you have heard about the latest invention. This report came through the AP news service this week:

"If you think keeping fit is merely mind over matter, Lester Clancy has an invention for you—a cordless jump-rope. That's right, a jump-rope minus the rope. All that's left are two handles, so you jump over the pretend rope.

"And for that idea kicking around Clancy's head since 1988, the U.S. Patent Office awarded the 52-year-old Mansfield, Ohio, man a patent.

"It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said, 'If you're still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope….'

"As one professor pointed out in the article, you could accomplish the same thing using two toilet paper holders!"2

Naturally we laugh at such an absurd invention, but as Alan Smith points out, "And yet, there are things in the spiritual realm that are just as ridiculous. There are some who want to hold on to the handles of 'faith' without a rope of 'works.' There are others who want to hold onto the handles of 'a God of mercy and grace' without a rope of 'a God of justice and holiness.' There are some who want to hold onto the handles of 'Christianity' without a rope of 'love.' There are some who want to hold onto the handles of accepting Jesus as 'Savior' but want to leave off the rope of accepting Jesus as 'Lord' of their lives."3

In the end, as today's Scripture reminds us, we will be rewarded by God on the basis of what we have done and how we have lived—not on the basis of what we professed. Some of us may be holding only a couple of "religious sticks."

"Dear God, please help me to become all that You envisioned for me to be when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, be genuinely committed to You, live in harmony with Your will, and enthusiastically serve You with my life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."