ODJ: the xy factor
June 29, 2011
The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; He will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout His battle cry and crush all His enemies (v.13)
READ: Isaiah 42:1-13
Strategy games have never been my desire on game night. I remember the first time my husband taught me how to play RISK. Being a strong melancholy woman, I was devastated when after 2 hours of playing I had only a handful of soldiers to show for my efforts. In contrast, my husband had amassed a huge army—wiping me off the board in his campaign to conquer every continent. I think I’ll be content with playing Scrabble; I’ll let my hubby and others contend for world domination.
Satan and his forces work hard to emasculate the warrior heart of every man—promoting the lies that men must be like women or by taking men prisoner through pornography. Unsure of what real strength looks like, many men subconsciously succumb to the false idea that playing the conquering hero on a video game is the greatest measurement of manhood.
They couldn’t be further from the truth.
Although a woman appreciates it when a guy understands what she needs, a man’s highest calling isn’t found in learning to make a woman happy. The greatest goal for a man is to give his life willingly and unreservedly for God’s glory (Ps. 86:12; Rom. 6:13).
While Jesus is compassionate, merciful, and gentle, we must also remember that He is the epitome of a warrior (v.13). God didn’t create men to be in bondage to their sexual appetites or their passivity. Neither did He create them to be women. In every seemingly ordinary moment, the battle between light and darkness rages. Men were made to fight for what is right.
For the body of Christ to function as God intended, the church must:
• Realize that God places a unique calling on men.
• Challenge men to lead strongly as they live selflessly.
• Teach men that true strength is found in godly surrender. —Regina Franklin
What fallout do we see in families as the result of a wrong understanding of what manhood means? In what ways can the church instill in men an understanding of the strategic calling God has placed on their lives?
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