Man up!

Man up! Or since I live in Texas, cowboy up! That phrase is often used to tell someone to toughen up or brace yourself. To prepare yourself for what is coming. I picture a man with a closed fist and his chest puffed out ready for a fight. This world is getting tough and there are many battles out there. I believe there are not enough men of character in this world, and that is leading to its destruction. I am putting out a call for men to man up! But not like this world pictures it. When I say man up, I mean lay down. That's right, I said in order to man up...we need to lay down. Lay down our pride, lay down our possessions, lay down our jobs, lay down anything in our lives that hinders our relationship with Christ. Offer up our lives as a living sacrifice.

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)

In class at church we have been learning how God has prepared a greater life for us. If your marriage is broken or your relationship with your children is damaged, it is time to stop trying to fix it, man up, and lay it down before the throne of God. If you are chasing fortune and fame and working for the things of this earth, it's time to man up! Lay it down before the throne of God. If your pride or a secret sin is keeping you from living the greater life God intended for you, you need to man up and lay it down before The Lord your God. In order to fix society and our own lives the simple answer is Jesus. We need to seek him first. 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

 I love that! If we seek God, he will give us a restored marriage, a renewed sense of passion, and even power over sin. Whatever we need he will give it to us. Our part is to Seek him above all else,  Not family or work or money first but God first. 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)

The Bible is calling us to seek him first with every fiber of our being.

No holds bar! We can't experience gods power in our life if we aren't recklessly pursing him first. So man up and don't hold anything back. Is fear of not finding him holding you back? What if we seek God with all that we are and we still can't find him? 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)

God promises us we will find him. Men, let's man up! Let's start to prepare for what is coming. It is time to start investing in our eternity. Lay down everything and pursue God with reckless abandon. He will show up and begin to use our lives for his glory. Don't waste another day. Be the man God intended you to be.