I don’t know about you, but there is nothing like having a craving for something at your favorite restaurant. It is a disappointment to drive the distance only to find the restaurant closed because of a holiday or remodeling or for some other reason….the neon sign is dim. Have you ever driven by Krispy Kreme hoping to find the “Hot Now” light on? It would be nice if the light were on all the time!
Some of us won’t even darken the door of a Krispy Kreme unless that light is on. Funny how we are like that with God sometimes. If we think we haven’t been “good enough” or “prayed up enough”, we won’t go to Him. We won’t step out in faith. I love the words of 1 John 2:12-14 as John states with passion why he is writing to the people. “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
He writes to the young and the old. He writes to the fathers. I know men and women alike struggle with feeling like they have to be in just the right “place” before we will go to God about something or before we step out in faith but I would like to focus on the men today.
Even though I am not a male…and don’t desire to be one….just saying…(I love being a female)…I do have a father, a husband, 2 sons, a nephew, many uncles, 2 brothers-in-law, many male friends and some young men I encourage often….and they all have taught me so much in life and I continue to learn many things from them.
From a female’s perspective…looking out into the male world…I would like to just say to the men out there……We want the REAL MEN to keep standing up while sitting at Jesus’ feet…….to not engage nor seek what the world says you should be, but instead seeking what God is telling you to be. We want you to drown out all other voices…. WE want you to be so close to God, listening to and trusting Him, so much so that when we seek Christ….we find you, sitting at His feet.
I have often heard it said, “That a man cannot lead a business successfully and with integrity, if he cannot lead his family and home first.” I would pretty much agree with that with one very important exception….I believe ultimate success for a man, or woman for that matter, comes from a “surrender of themselves” to God, not to their spouse or children or friends or career or their hobbies. The world and all of the media….scream loudly such a different message than what the message that the “Cross” and the “life” and the “resurrection” of Jesus mean for all of us!
No matter where you are in your life….who your daddy is or is not…and mother as well.
No matter what your past has been…… good, horrible or average.
No matter what you bank account says.
Or your “portfolio”.
Or what your kids have done or haven’t done.
If you are a dad….no matter your titles, or your failures….let me say, God does not lie, nor does He change…..the “Hot light” of His presence is always “ON” ….and HE is available to help you stand and be counted even if the world says time has passed or too many mess-ups have occurred or too much pride has been displayed.
The most amazing thing about God and His Will and His Power is making the “weak STRONG,” making the “blind to SEE” and the “lame to WALK”….He is a God that loves to take the expected and do the UNEXPECTED!
Perry Noble recently preached a sermon entitled, “Comebacks”. He pointed out how much everyone likes a “comeback story!” God is in the COMEBACK, RESTORING…REDEEMING business….IT is HIS speciality! Not just for men but women as well!
I strongly encourage you, whether you are a man or a woman, to understand Who God is…truly who He is and what He can do….and the only way to truly know Him is to sit at His feet! Again, I John tells us, the Word of God lives in you and you have overcome the evil one.