In my former life , before I became a Christian, I felt that Christianity was just a crutch for the aged, infirm, weak, and those who were unable to cope with life. Especially when it came to men. I thought only sissies could be involved in religion.
However, when I was at the height of my worldly powers, totally independent and self-reliant. God intervened. God put a book in my path. A book called The Great Controversy. This book showed me what Jesus had done for me.
He died in my place, He died the death that I deserve, He saved my life. It also showed me that the path of life I was following was a trip to nowhere. It showed me what a great man Jesus was, He was an ernest young man, masculine, strong, and fearless, a man of integrity;
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
He was God. But the book also showed me that Jesus was reliant on the power of His heavenly Father while He was on earth. He had no advantage over you and I, that same power is available to us today.
While studying the Bible, I read about the Apostles, some of whom were rough, tough fishermen, and the other great men who played a part in Bible history. Guess what? To my surprise there wasn’t a sissy among them. These were he-men.
I read of King David and his mighty men, Gideon, Joshua, and Samson and many others. These men were brave, fearless, strong, great men of battle. But, the lesson I learned was that they were in constant relationship with God. They needed His power to be the men they were..
God is able to give you and I that same power to be a real man. To be brave, strong, fearless, to have integrity, and yet with this strength, possess the fruits of the Spirit. We don’t have to fear or face our enemies on our own, God is with us. But, to avail ourselves of God’s power we have to be in constant relationship with Him also…
I am now comfortable in my own skin. It doesn’t matter if people think I am weak for being a Christian, because I know I am connected to the mightiest power in the universe, and following the greatest example of them all; Jesus.
I now know how and why real men love Jesus.
Stan Shaw