Act Like Men

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

When you read the title to this post, I've obviously written it to men. But the spiritual principles contained within certainly are applicable for women as well. 

1.  We need to "Be on alert."

Peter the apostle writes:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

Because the enemy of our souls is on the prowl 24/7, we must constantly be on alert, being sober and vigilant. God has established His men as "watchmen on the wall" (See Isaiah 62:6) to pray and be the protectors and providers for our families.

2.  We must "stand firm in the faith." 

It can get very lonely and wearisome spending so much time as a watchman on the wall, and you can't accomplish it by your own strength. Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." We can only do so by faith—as Christ strengthens us. 

And let's face it—praying without ceasing is hard work. It's easy to spend 5 minutes of your day asking God to bless your finances or whatever you have on your shopping list for Him to provide for you. But God is not your divine Santa Claus. And He does not call us to pray a 5 minute shopping list to Him. No, you must "labor fervently in prayer" for your families, for this nation, and for one another. (See Colossians 4:12)

The key is, you have to ask your Heavenly Father for the strength that His Spirit supplies. Jesus was very clear on this:

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Luke 11:9-10)

3.  We must "act like men and be strong." 

This does not mean trying to be a macho man, attempting to lift 300 pound rocks above your head, attending assault weapon shoot-em-up fests, and crushing beer cans against your forehead. 

Acting like strong men who claim to be followers of Christ, means that the things that are important to God are important to you—and the fruit, or produce, of your life proves it. The Bible says we are "known by our fruit." 

The fruit of the Spirit should be manifest in your daily life.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

How many of you demonstrate that entire list of the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life?

4.  Finally, and most importantly, "Let all that you do be done in love."

If we go to Bible studies four nights a week, and donate hundreds of dollars to missions, and serve as an usher at church, and even sell all that we have, to go up and down the highways carrying a cross for Christ—if it's not done sincerely, unselfishly, and in Christ's love—it means absolutely nothing to God. (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Here is what the love of, and for Christ looks like:

"Love suffers long and is ind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Oh, and for all of you single or divorced men who are still "looking for the right woman"—any woman worth having as a wife, is looking for a man who is strong in Christ's love and faith—not strong in a worldly sense. 

The world's version of a 'strong' man is a whiskey drinkin', tobacco-chewin', cage fighter, who wears camo t-shirts and drives a huge 4x4 truck. 

But a man who is strong in Christ humbles himself and wages battle in the Spirit by loving and praying for the needs of others, before he even thinks about his own needs.

A man who is strong in Christ also walks what he talks.

If you can quote Bible verses and say "amen brother!" to a good message at church, but you never actually take the time to reach out to someone in need, then you are a spiritual impostor—just another religious poser.

You can't just look like a man of God—you must act like one.

Jesus demonstrated His love for people at great personal cost and inconvenience.

—How about you?

"Let all that you do be done in love."

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.