I spent this late evening in the movie theater with my wife watching the movie Courageous. If you haven't seen it you might want too... while not being the most cinematically astounding it was a well done flick but the focus was quite a bit more well rounded than just a movie for entertainment. If you've seen it you know what I mean. I usually am not a big fan of any kind of any melodrama but this one got me thinking about Fatherhood (duh, that's kinda the point). What does it mean to be a man of god?
My vocation is a Pastor, a title bestowed upon me by some wonderful folks that I help walk thru this life seeking the leading of God as defined in the pages of scripture, but many times this title is quite a burden. It comes with some of the trappings of perfection (or expected perfection) when in reality most of us are just as messed up as everyone else. With that said I do think that God calls each of us to a very high life. The life is holiness.
The Movie courageous calls men to be not just "good" dads but the calling is to something higher... The movie's Resolution reads ::
"I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15"
If men would take their role seriously I'm convicted that there would be many fewer of the "major issues" that we find plaguing our society. Our world needs Dad's, men that not only look after their own children but also after the kids around them that may not have someone like a dad in their own lives. God demonstrates for us what love looks like, he adopts us as his sons and daughters (for more on that read my last post). The Bible makes a great guide book for what the calling is on each of us (man or woman) but guys we're called to a pretty lofty goal. WE ARE TO BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF OUR HOMES... too many guys have rolled over and lost sight of what they're supposed to be doing.
If you're serious about striving toward God in your home go see this movie. It's very Christian - centric but regardless of your beliefs you should take the call to fatherhood in it very seriously. Ladies make your husbands go see it.
The other part of Joshua 25 reads "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve" that's the challenge on my mind. Have I chosen as a dad and husband for this day to be dedicated to God. We need to start each day with that question so that we can answer : "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
If you're a dad or mom... serve God with your family, there is no higher calling.
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