Biblical Masculinity

I woke up this AM. And the Holy Spirit put one word in front of me… Character. Oh boy. I hadn’t had my coffee yet so I wasn’t fully  prepared to push into that message. As I was descending the staircase He added another word… ”Christian character.”  And about the time I was pressing the button to froth up some raw milk, the complete expansion of the idea. “Christian character within the realm of Biblical masculinity.” So its going to be one of those days is it. I settled in with some caffeine and offered up a prayer for guidance.

I can’t possibly understand Biblical masculinity and Christian character on my own and assuredly I don't want my cues for this from the world. The world is actively trying to mess men up. Negotiate our identity, our DNA. Left unattended the world would place men back in the garden focused on the apple, instead of fearing God and taking care of Eve. Character hacked.

No one and no other entity is qualified to mold men like the Father, The great I AM, The Creator, the Potter, Abba. For us to have a chance to understand the thousand points of nuance that is a man of God…. requires us to abandon our own definitions and diligently, singularly, reverently pursue without flinching or diversion the masculine traits that can only come from the one who designed us in the first place. God.  

He knows all of our names, our purpose, our individual calling and the number of hairs on each of our heads. Because He created it all. Who else could possible shape us?  

He shapes us by His Word, His leading by the Holy Spirit and within the model of His Son, who is both the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. The full representation of the great expanse of man- the Lamb who loves us sacrificially unto death and the ruling Lion who leads with authority, power and grace. These guidelines from Him aren’t subject to whim or fad. Immutable, yet flexible enough to accommodate the diversity of design that is represented by every man born into the kingdom. Collectively we are a snapshot of the breadth of God- that is by design.

What are we called to do? Empty ourselves of ourselves and be brave enough to crawl up on the potter’s wheel to allow Him (and only Him) to shape, to form, to cut away, and to mold us fully into the model of a biblically masculine man. We cannot do this of our own accord. We look to Him… and in this we become the recipients of the greatest model for leadership and love ever. It is a gift, a privilege but it’s also a responsibility. I accept this.. question is… will you?  

Character. Christian Character. Christian character within the realm of Biblical masculinity. Lets make that our goal.