You Don’t Have A Right

In his book Every Man’s Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God?, co-author by Stephen Arterburn with Mike Yorkey, Fred Stoeker really puts in perspective. In the third chapter, Stoeker speaks a truth that we often misunderstand. I know it hit me head on. To quote, “You don’t have a right to stay the way you are.” (38) Think about it. When you gave your life to Jesus Christ, you handed over your rights of control to Him. He bought you with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us that, “For ye are bought with a price…” That price was Jesus’ very life. “…in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”  “..while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin…” Romans 5:6 & 8, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Romans 3:25 says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [appeasement] [for our sins] through faith in his blood…”

As a result of your faith, you now belong to Jesus Christ. That means you are “joint-heirs with Christ” and because of that, sin has no more power over you. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him…For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:6-9, 14. Did you see that? “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 6:1-2, 5:20.

See you do not have to serve sin, because of what Christ did it no longer has power over you. God’s grace is greater than sin. Jesus bought you with a price so you can be with Him and not in sin any longer. He has set you free. When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you accepted the truth that who He is and His work done for you on the Cross was enough and handed your control over to Him. Therefore, “you don’t have a right to stay the way you are.” You do have a responsibility to be sanctified or to “work out” your salvation, i.e… Stop sinning and be like Christ. Remember what God said? “Be not conformed to this world” but “be conformed to the image of his Son”. Romans 12:2, 8:29.

Andy Catt

Got Me Thinking

I read something the other day that got me thinking. The kind of man I want to be in a relationship. Seeing how I’ve not yet been in one, it’s given me time to realize what I should and want to be.
I want to be a man that treats my girl right. That will seek after God’s own heart, to find hers. That cares for her, and shows her not just tells her. That will encourage and uplift her, and tell her she’s beautiful because she really is. God made her that way, both outside and inside. That seeks to love her and not lust after her. That will view her properly and not as property. That will be a man who fights for his purity and will stand up to protect hers. That will remain loyal to her, as she would be to me. That will be protective of her and that will trust her, as she trusts me. That will be honest with her, communication being key in our relationship. That will not be afraid to be real with her, as she would not be afraid to be real with me. That will pray for her and with her, as she would for me and with me. That will build our relationship on a foundation of Christ first. That will stick to my boundaries to protect myself and her from temptation, speculation, and question. That will be there for her no matter what. That will fight for her and hang on when things get rough. That will spend time with her. That will talk with her. That will be a shoulder to cry on and someone to hold her as she does. That will be someone to hang out and have fun with. That will help take care of her when she is sick and help her feel better when she’s sad. That will be a gentleman and chivalrous to her. That will be romantic. That will make her feel special. That will not be ashamed or embarrassed to call her my girlfriend. That will compliment her instead of flattering her. That will invest in her not just spend money on her. That will treat her with respect, honor, and dignity that she deserves. That will strive to be the man that God has created me to be and will encourage her to be the woman that God has created her to be. That will uphold this vow, to be this man.

Andy Catt

Teen Girls Define “A Real Man”

from The Rebelution Blog

Lori Hainline & Rebecca Chandler co-authored this list at the respective ages of 19 and 17. Their closing comment: This list is not exhaustive and men like this do exist!

A real man . . . …understands and lives according to the basic purposes for which he was created: to worship, honor, and serve God. (Romans 12:1-2)

…values and carefully handles the scriptures. (2 Timothy 2:15)

…doesn’t pride himself on being knowledgeable in the sinful ways of the world. (1 John 2:15-16, James 4:4, Philippians 4:8)

A real man . . . …isn’t embarrassed to worship God and pray in a group setting. (Mark 8:38)

…is wise, yet humble. (Proverbs 2:1-10, 1 Peter 5:5, Romans 12:16)

A real man . . . …takes leadership in a self-sacrificing way. (Ephesians 5:25-28)

…is kind because, “What is desirable in man is his kindness” (Proverbs 19:22)

…doesn’t try to prove himself but is simply confident as he walks in the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 14:26-27)

…doesn’t put others down with his actions, attitude, words, or his strength. But on the contrary, he affirms and builds others up (Proverbs 15:4, Ephesians 4:29)

A real man . . . …treats his sisters and mother with as much respect as he would treat a prospective wife. (Matthew 25:21)

…not only respects but appreciates a young lady’s purity and innocence. In our culture innocence isn’t retained by accident. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)

…values his purity as much as he values a young lady’s purity. He is not ashamed to live and act differently from the world in order to guard himself. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Ecclesiastes 7:26)

…can look a girl straight in the eye without communicating any impurity. (Proverbs 20:11)

A real man . . . …isn’t ashamed to identify himself with his family (Ephesians 6:2-3)

…is a gentleman. He is polite and shows women honor in everyday things such as opening doors, etc. (1 Peter 3:7)

…has no desire to be gross in order to impress other men. He doesn’t burp, swear, or tell disgusting stories. (Proverbs 13:5, Ephesians 5:4)

A real man . . . …shows by his actions that he loves children. (Matthew 19:13-14)

…is pleasant and expresses joy rather than feeling that it’s masculine to be sullen. (Proverbs 21:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:16)

…doesn’t blame others for his own problems but embraces responsibility. (Proverbs 12:27)

…can accept correction (Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 29:1)

A real man . . . …is mature in his emotions and his expressions of them. He can deal with the trials of life logically, with wisdom, not on a basis of emotional instability. (Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 17:27, Proverbs 12:18)

…understands the value of work and is financially responsible. (Colossians 3:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Luke 16:10-11)

…expresses himself with intelligent words rather than using “street talk”. (Proverbs 17:20, Titus 2:6-8, 1 Peter 4:11, Ephesians 4:29)