What type of man are you becoming - or more so, what type of impact are you making in the lives of others? While on Facebook today I saw many people posting a YouTube video of rapper Lil Wayne's new song... only this song had a VERY bad message. I am not a fan of Lil Wayne in any way, and I refuse to listen to the majority of rappers now days because of the degrading, unChristian messages they send out. This specific one entitled "Love Me" not only talks about sex, drugs, and loose women that he has no respect for, but says "ho*s love me like satan". WHY would anyone want to listen to this man or support his music, especially if they call them self a Christian? Jay-Z has said "life starts when the church ends" in one of his songs, and several other artists have blasphemed the Bible in numerous ways through their songs. While the beat may be good - the message behind it leaks into the crevasses of the minds listening and influences us without us even realizing it. The more we listen the more we begin to push everything aside and become lukewarm - thinking nothing is wrong and he did not "mean to say that".
I now believe that God desires for EVERY father to courageously step up and do whatever it takes to be involved in the lives of his children. But more than just being there providing for them, he is to walk with them through their young lives and be a visual representation of the character of God, their father in heaven. A father should love his children, and seek to win their hearts. He should protect them, discipline them, and teach them about God. He should model how to walk with integrity and treat others with respect, and should call out his children to become responsible men and women, who live their lives for what matters in eternity. Some men will hear this, and mock it. Or ignore it. But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God for the position of influence he has given you. You can't fall asleep at the wheel, only to wake up one day and realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value, but the souls of your children do. Some men will hear this and agree with it, but have no resolve to live it out. Instead, they will live for themselves, and waste the opportunity to leave a godly legacy for the next generation. But there are some men, who regardless of the mistakes we've made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did NOT do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children to do the same. And whenever possible to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives, but who desperately need help and direction. And we are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous, to join us in this resolution. In my home, the decision has already been made. You don't have to ask who will guide my family, because by God's grace, I will. You don't have to ask who will teach my son to follow Christ, because I will. Who will accept the responsibility of providing and protecting my family? I will. Who will ask God to break the chain of destructive patterns in my family's history? I will. Who will pray for, and bless my children to boldly pursue whatever God calls them to do? I am their father. I will. I accept this responsibility and it is my privilege to embrace it. I want the favor of God and his blessing on my home. Any good man does. So where are you men of courage? Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord? It's time to rise up and answer the call that God has given to you and to say I will.
He means every word in his lyrics, otherwise he would not put them out. If you did not believe in something, would you make it your entire reputation or identity? I am disgusted by men like him and pray that my generation will be courageous in standing up against these type of influences. Especially the men - men have such a great impact in this world and have the power to change so much. Men have the opportunity to either use women or respect them, share the gospel or live a life against what the Bible stands for, be a family man or a party animal, act as a disciple of Christ or work against what Jesus died for.
I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
-Revelations 3:15-17
One of my favorite movies, Courageous, has a great ending speech that applies to men and their children. Please read the manuscript below from the movie regarding men's roles in their children (only please apply that to their family, friends, loved ones, and those they encounter in daily lives). We depend on the men of our generation to be the example for our children and those we will live with. A cry from every Christian woman - please be the courageous man that God made you to be. You are capable of so much, loved so much, and the women of the world look up to you. Please, be courageous for the Lord - we believe in you!
I now believe that God desires for EVERY father to courageously step up and do whatever it takes to be involved in the lives of his children. But more than just being there providing for them, he is to walk with them through their young lives and be a visual representation of the character of God, their father in heaven. A father should love his children, and seek to win their hearts. He should protect them, discipline them, and teach them about God. He should model how to walk with integrity and treat others with respect, and should call out his children to become responsible men and women, who live their lives for what matters in eternity. Some men will hear this, and mock it. Or ignore it. But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God for the position of influence he has given you. You can't fall asleep at the wheel, only to wake up one day and realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value, but the souls of your children do. Some men will hear this and agree with it, but have no resolve to live it out. Instead, they will live for themselves, and waste the opportunity to leave a godly legacy for the next generation. But there are some men, who regardless of the mistakes we've made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did NOT do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children to do the same. And whenever possible to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives, but who desperately need help and direction. And we are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous, to join us in this resolution. In my home, the decision has already been made. You don't have to ask who will guide my family, because by God's grace, I will. You don't have to ask who will teach my son to follow Christ, because I will. Who will accept the responsibility of providing and protecting my family? I will. Who will ask God to break the chain of destructive patterns in my family's history? I will. Who will pray for, and bless my children to boldly pursue whatever God calls them to do? I am their father. I will. I accept this responsibility and it is my privilege to embrace it. I want the favor of God and his blessing on my home. Any good man does. So where are you men of courage? Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord? It's time to rise up and answer the call that God has given to you and to say I will.
No comments:
Post a Comment