Stop Behaving: A Gospel-Centered Devotional For Men

by Jerrad Lopes

accountability groups almost always address the behavior, and very rarely deal with the heart.

Jesus was clearly more concerned with a person’s heart than their behavior.

Behavior management is exhausting and only leads to pride or shame. It leads to pride when you are disciplined enough to follow the “rules” and begin to convince yourself that you’re a better Christian than the rest of us. Or, it leads to shame when you, like many of us, screw up over and over again. Jesus wants to free you from both your pride and your shame.

Satan wasn't tempting Eve with an apple; he was tempting her with satisfaction outside of God.

The question he planted in Eve’s head is the same question that you and I struggle with today: Is there something other than God that can satisfy my soul?

Where are you searching for joy outside of Jesus? What are you hoping will satisfy your soul, but will ultimately leave you wanting more?

Because we are born sinful, we don’t naturally drift toward God; we drift away from him. Left alone for five minutes, five days, or five months, you will likely find yourself far from God. You and I need constant reminders of the Gospel. We need people to remind us of who God is, who he says we are, and what he is doing around the world.

Clear away the noise, chaos, and distraction so you can hear the Holy Spirit speak truth into areas of your heart that desperately need him.

"Obedience to Jesus today means not living by bread alone, but by the Word of God."

HE WHO FINDS A WIFE FINDS A GOOD THING AND OBTAINS FAVOR FROM THE LORD.

And then God said something very interesting. “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” It’s the very first time in scripture that we see God say something isn’t good. There was no sin, no shame, no condemnation, and yet, Adam’s “aloneness” still wasn’t good. God had something better in mind. Notice that God didn’t create a “best friend” for Adam; he created a helper.

Brother, your wife was designed for your holiness, not your happiness. In God’s sovereignty, he gave you a helper who would not necessarily be like you, but who would help shape you into the man that he desires you to be.

Be reminded, her role is not to be the source of your joy, but rather, to be God’s uniquely designed partner for your growth.

Our time on Earth is the shortest amount of time we will spend anywhere.

When you begin to view life through the lens of eternity, remembering that this place is not your home, you start to become the husband God desires you to be.

God didn’t save you because you’re awesome. He saved you because he’s awesome.

He then tells Hosea that the whole point of their marriage is to symbolize God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful Israel. Despite their behavior and lack of commitment, God didn’t bail.

We have searched for significance and pleasure outside of Christ. We have been unfaithful. And God hasn’t bailed. Not because you are awesome, but because he is awesome.

"You can forgive with unending forgiveness because Jesus forgives you with unending forgiveness."

Imagine if God treated us the way we often treat our wife. Imagine that he pursued us once, and then when we “said the prayer” and became a Christian, he stopped chasing our heart.

God continues to pursue our hearts daily. He didn’t save you so that one day you can go to heaven. He saved you so that you can continue to know him and fall in love with him, daily.

You are literally hard-wired to chase after the heart of your wife every single day. Once a week, once a month, or once a year dates won’t suffice. You must pursue her heart every day.

"God is relentless in his pursuit of your heart. May you be the same toward your wife."

Jesus told his disciples that the Kingdom of God isn’t just a “one day” thing that would happen in the future. He taught them that it can also be experienced today, in the here and now. The culture of Heaven, the way The King operates, can be seen in the normal everyday stuff of life.

“Our mission is to see every person drawn a little bit closer to Jesus than when they first walked through our front door.”

"God wants to use your marriage to see his Kingdom come and his will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."

But he does expect that you would point your kids to the One who is.

Your goal should be to point your kids to the only one who can actually satisfy their soul.

point your kids to the one who already is the perfect father. Point your kids to the one who will always give his attention your children. Point them to the one who never gets exhausted. Point them to the one who never loses his temper. Point them to the one who never grows tired of extending grace and forgiveness.