If I want to finish strong, I need to be honest with myself (and with others) about where I am – so, how am I doing?
As a man of God, how am I doing;
At work
At home
With my wife, my friends
In prayer
With patience, self-control (or the other 7 segments of the fruit of the Spirit)
With priorities, serving others
If I want to finish strong then I've got to evaluate how I'm doing at this stage of the journey
List of 24 characteristics of a godly man – this list appeared in a book written in 1666! So some of the language/phrases reflect that fact
A man of knowledge
A man moved by faith
A man fired by love
A man like God
A man careful about the worship of God
A man who serves God, not men
A man who prizes Christ
A man who weeps
A man who loves the Word
A man who has the Spirit of God residing in him
A man of humility
A man of prayer
A man of sincerity
A heavenly man
A zealous man
A patient man
A thankful man
A man who loves the saints
A man who does not indulge himself in any sin
A man who is good in his relationships
A man who does spiritual things in a spiritual manner
A man thoroughly trained in religion
A man who walks with God
A man who strives to be an instrument for making others godly
How am I doing? I'll think through these. How are YOU doing?
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
The time for waiting is over...
Time to stop playing
Clash of Kingdoms
A real man leaves this world with more in his wake than he took. It is time to stop playing and shirking responsibility and start living out the call. What does that mean? It means seeking, really seeking God's call. Confirming that call with the church and then throwing all behind pursuing that call, living it out, exploring it, making it happen.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2)
God has poured his grace upon me. His grace is not in vain. I will work harder than any through that grace to do the works God has prepared in advance.
I believe my call is to teach and preach the Bible. I know no more than that. I do not know the context, but I do know that much, so I need to develop that.
If that is my call, which it is: I must spend my money to that purpose, use my time to that purpose, choose my words to that purpose, set my heart to that purpose, live and give my life to that purpose.
I must remain accountable to the call. I must stop playing and define my life so that God's glory is revealed most fully. I do not want to come before the throne of God, bow the knee before King Jesus and know that I wasted my life.
It is time. Time to move beyond mediocre into the passionate God-exalting life that has always been planned for me. It's time. Time to put childish things behind me. It's time.
"... Be strong, and show yourself a man" (1 Kings 2)
Man up.
J McGuinness
November
Clash of Kingdoms
A real man leaves this world with more in his wake than he took. It is time to stop playing and shirking responsibility and start living out the call. What does that mean? It means seeking, really seeking God's call. Confirming that call with the church and then throwing all behind pursuing that call, living it out, exploring it, making it happen.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2)
God has poured his grace upon me. His grace is not in vain. I will work harder than any through that grace to do the works God has prepared in advance.
I believe my call is to teach and preach the Bible. I know no more than that. I do not know the context, but I do know that much, so I need to develop that.
If that is my call, which it is: I must spend my money to that purpose, use my time to that purpose, choose my words to that purpose, set my heart to that purpose, live and give my life to that purpose.
I must remain accountable to the call. I must stop playing and define my life so that God's glory is revealed most fully. I do not want to come before the throne of God, bow the knee before King Jesus and know that I wasted my life.
It is time. Time to move beyond mediocre into the passionate God-exalting life that has always been planned for me. It's time. Time to put childish things behind me. It's time.
"... Be strong, and show yourself a man" (1 Kings 2)
Man up.
J McGuinness
November
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