Richard Mansel's Blog, page 2
April 30, 2015
Calling Men to a Higher Standard
Jesus calls men to a higher standard
Societal shifts are detrimental in many ways. The world of entertainment makes millions mocking men as stupid and useless.
Men aren’t keeping up with women in graduation rates. Increasingly, men are moving in with working women to pay their bills. Moreover, they’re far too often not raising their children or even present in the home.
Therefore, the many good men in our society are faced with a dilemma. They can either fall into the pits or find better examples. In that respect, there is an answer because the greatest role model who ever lived is readily available.
Jesus is more than just the ethereal head of a religion. Jesus is alive at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19) and still active with his disciples (Hebrews 13:5). He is God (John 1:1-2) and we can trust him completely (Titus 1:2; Heb. 11:6).
Jesus was also a flesh and blood male who faced the same emotions and challenges as other men.
Yet, he did so without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52, NKJV). Men should follow Jesus as an ideal man and close their ears to the depraved messages of the culture. Jesus provides the right answers.
First, Jesus was comfortable with himself. He was the most complex person who ever lived (Isaiah 53; John 1:1-5,14). Yet, he was secure enough in himself to stand firm in his beliefs. When his followers left, he refused to chase them down and apologize (John 6:66-68).
Second, Jesus never forgot his priorities. He served tirelessly to carry them out (Matthew 16:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:24). In Matthew 4, Satan tempted Jesus at a vulnerable point but Christ never forgot his mission.
Third, Jesus was strong, yet compassionate. He always exhibited love and gentleness to women, children and the weak. Yet, he could be strong when force was needed. He physically chased away the moneychangers and then immediately
ministered, healing the blind and lame (Matthew 21:12-15).
Machismo says that it’s unmanly to express love, gentleness and kindness. Yet, it’s a trap of Satan. Wives and children measure the men in their lives in moments of love, and care. They crave leadership and strength of character more than
anything else.
Men must take the right path and be comfortable on that road. Their ultimate goal should be to go to heaven and lead their families there (Ephesians 5:22-32). How other men may feel about that is immaterial. Man-cards don’t exist, responsibilities do.
