What does it mean to be a man? That can be a daunting question and unfortunately, the answers nowadays can appear quite skewed from what the original blueprint was for men. Each and every young man should have a good idea of who they want to be as they enter and progress through manhood. The Bible gives great instruction when it comes to being a man of God and that is exactly the man I strive to be.
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22-23
Being a true man of God is not one’s guarantee to a worry-free life. It is, however, a guarantee to eternal life. We were all (man and woman) created by God in the image of God therefore, we were created to be like God. He also gave us this little thing called free-will. God gave us this power to make our own choices which also means that we are accountable to God and to all others for each and every choice we make. The man of God that I strive to be will seek wise counsel and devote time to prayer when faced with decisions that can have large scale consequences.
“Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts.”
1 Peter 1:22-23
There is no limit to God’s love for all of His people and that is something that all should strive for. The man of God that I strive to be will love intensely and sincerely and the only reason that I will be able to do so is because of the blood of Jesus that was shed at the cross.
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”
Psalm 37:7
I will wait on the Lord with an obedient heart and will not grow jealous of those who may prosper even by doing wrong. I desire to do things that will have lasting value and that begins and ends with faithfully serving God and serving those around me. The man of God that I strive to be will be a patient man with an obedient heart, a man of God who is patient but not passive.
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
I will be a man who has no issue being generous with my time, finances, etc. because that is God’s will for each and every one of us. The man of God that I strive to be will be a man with a generous heart for all.
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.”
Ephesians 5:25-26
“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”
I will to be a man that loves my wife unconditionally; no matter the battles she may face; the things that may trouble her or possibly bring on stress and anxiety, I will love her as my partner in the new life that God has blessed us with. I desire to be a man that can lead my wife as the Bible states. The man of God that I strive to be is a man who truly loves his wife according to the principles that God has set.
1 Peter 3:7
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.”
Colossians 3:21
One of the greatest gifts that a father (and mother) can give their children is instruction in the ways of the Lord. I will treat my children with love and respect because, above all else, that is God’s will. The man of God that I strive to be is a man that is the best possible father to his children according to the instruction that God supplies.
This is simply what I am striving for in regards to being a true man of God. There are hundreds of other verses that I could have included but the ones I did include are what is truly near and dear to my heart. There is no greater way to walk out this life of faith than to receive and apply instruction from God’s word.
