July 28 - A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men

The Marine Corp solicits candidates of the highest level.  Not ones who are attempting to find a leisurely pace or a shortcut stride but only those of the greatest character and hearts.  It’s not different with God.  To Ezekiel, the Lord said, “I’m looking for a man to stand in the gap.”  God has always used men who would resist the natural tendency to preserve, protect, and provide merely for themselves. He’s looking for men who will live by faith, so we might ask ourselves how we would characterize the life of a godly man.  Years ago, Ron Mehl, author of God Works The Nightshift, gave several criteria that makes a strong man of God.

1.  He realizes the absolute necessity of living with an awareness of God’s

     presence moment to moment.

2.   He’s comfortable resting his future in God’s hand, because he knows God will

      always do what He says He will do.

3.   He responds to God’s voice when he hears the Lord call.

4.   He recognizes that true faith is visible.  God sees it, but the peole we love do

      as well.

5.   He lives with an awesome reverence for God.  It’s the kind of reverence and

      fear that strikes you whenever you’re in the presence of someone superior

• Matthew 14:26- The disciples were afraid when Jesus came walking on the water (that was something superior)
• Luke 7:11-16- They were afraid when Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead (that was certainly superior)
• Luke 2:9- They were afraid when the angels appeared at Jesus’ birth (that’s superior)
• Acts 9:31- They were afraid when God called His church out of darkness and they began walking in His light.  The fear of God is always at the heart of godly men.

6.   He reviews his daily schedule and seeks to do only the will of God

7.   He saturates his mind with the Word of God that he might be renewed day by

      day.

8.   He submits to the Holy Spirit promptings.  Every day God, in various ways,

      tries to get our attention so that we might avoid trouble and heartache.

9.   He surrounds Himself with friends who will stand with him during times of

      trials.  David did with his mighty men, and Jesus did in the Garden of

      Gethsemane.

10.   He understands that meekness isn’t weakness.  It’s the pathway to grace

        and glory.

11.   He knows that when he makes a righteous vow, he’s committed to keep it,

        no matter what the cost.

12.   He has a servant heart.  He willingly makes sacrifices for those he loves, to

        see the purposes of God fulfilled in them.

13.   He is contented with what he has but still contends for all God has for Him.

Whether you are a man desiring to follow God (or you are praying for a man in your life), God has never abandoned His search and is looking for men that want to be like Him.

Consider reading the Word today:

 

Copyright 2014 Terry Risser