After our last discussion, I’ve been doing a dangerous thing (thinking). Some other thoughts that are bouncing around my mind are as follows:
4. Godly Men are Quick and Slow.
5. Godly Men are Tongue-Tied.
6. It’s also best of Godly Men don’t leave home naked.
Comments/Questions/Complaints?
This is your fault…you’ve caused my to start thinking so much that I popped out 2 blogs of my own.
My brain hurts.
PS pray for me, I’m taking 35 kids to camp this wkend.
We invented the saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”, precisely because we know deep-down the opposite is true. Wounds from sticks and stones (if not immediately fatal) heal rather quickly, but the wounds caused by words can last a lifetime. So the first two certainly are critical thoughts.
For some reason, I tend to get something a little different from the Ephesians armour analogy. A lot of people seem to turn it into a crusader metaphor of varying sorts. I notice that it’s what allows us to stand against all that assails us. And that the instruction, again and again, is to stand. Not to charge. Not to attack. Not to destroy. But to stand. And stand firm.
But that’s probably just me.
Slow to anger and slow to speak, I wish I was that way. I can blow a gasket and chew someone up and spit them out in 2.2 seconds. I will be working on these two things in my life because of this blog. Thanks for allowing the Spiritu to speak through you.
Scott nailed Ephesians 6. Stand is used 3 times. If you are standing in a defensive posture with your feet separated like a linebacker, your armor is very protective. When you have done everything to stand, stand firm. Them are shoutin’ words.
good thought, scott. we are to stand our ground when the day of evil comes. Stand our ground against the ‘flaming arrows of the evil one’. (BTW, on a side note, have I ever mentioned that I really love the almost Voldemort-esque way the Evil One is talked about in scripture? I really dig, for whatever reason, the way we are seemingly cautioned about You Know Who…)
Anyway, you’re right. ‘Standing’ doesn’t always equate to ‘attacking’ …or ‘boycotting’….or ‘picketing’. It’s rather the opposite. We are instructed to stand OUR ground. Unmoved. Unshaken. Knowing that our Mighty Warrior has things in hand and it’s not up to us. We are just to stand. It seems to allude back to Ephesians 2 where Paul is talking about being ‘in Christ’….just stand. It paints a more peaceful picture than I’d noticed before…
There’s a tribe in Africa that when they are in battle they tie a rope to a stake in the ground and stand their ground until the battle in over. Someone from their own tribe comes and cuts the rope to release them. Just an interesting side note.
Did you notice the the armour doesn’t cover the back.
A man I would want my kids to emulate would have the following character traits. These traits would be evidenced in this man’s life.
1. Love – the truest essence of love – totally giving of self.
2. Joy – a person who can find good in all situations and be happy in those situations.
3. Peace – a man who is at peace is resting in something much bigger than himself.
4. Patience – a man who can wait is a man indeed.
5. Kindness – a man who is kind meeds needs.
6. Goodness – few are good, but those who are shine like a light on a hill.
7. Faith – men who have faith demonstrate their faith in every aspect of their lives.
8. Gentleness – power under control, not feminine.
9. Self-Control – a man who devout to a singular outcome for his life.
I think Godly men also reproduce disciples. Almost anyone can reproduce, but it takes a Godly man to reproduce disciples. Good thoughts, Tom!