Often times as men, we move through life just fine. We have work to do, we have time to play, hunt, fish, and golf. But there are also times when we get to the end of whatever list we have made for ourselves or perhaps we just want to go off script and set the “To do” list aside.
It is times like these that we have trouble turning off the part of us that is the problem solver. As you may well know, men are very see a problem, solve the problem group of people. We are the type that when we are on the road and we put the destination into the gps and it says we are 4 hours and 36 minutes away, we don’t view that as just information but a challenge to be met and crushed at all costs. When we had small kids, my wife Joan and our kids Lauren and Jaron knew that it was a good idea to make sure you went to the bathroom and had water and snacks in the car. There were very few stops along the way because we had a challenge to beat. Who’s with me on this…
The same can be said for our spiritual lives. If you choose to follow the one true Christ, Jesus, you will find a new life that not only benefits you to a life forever with God but a new way to live that is not exactly natural. When we understand the free gift that God has given us we also can understand the relationship that also comes with it. As with any relationship we have, there are things that become our responsibility. When we care for our relationship with God we do so by giving it things like time, honor, dedication, and holiness.
There are several ways we can accomplish these things and today will only scratch the surface of what we could do.
For today let’s take a look at King David. One thing that has always stood out to me about David is that God calls him a man after his own heart. When we study David from his early days to fulfillment of his purpose, when he fell asleep (died), his life can be an encouragement, a warning, and even a roadmap to our destination. A life well lived.
The small piece of David’s life I want to look at is found in Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
This part of the Psalm is attributed to David’s life after his affair with a married woman and the death of his son that came from it. David was a great warrior and a great king. And through all of this he still understands his relationship with God. That his relationship is not a one way street. David strives to do the will of God, he strives to follow God’s commandments and live a holy life. But he is also realistic of where he stands in life.
Later on in the psalm he says this
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
This is a good place to be. When we’ve made a mistake in life or even make an active choice to go against God. We don’t just quit, we don’t just throw our relationship away. No, we remember who God is and who we are. We ask for forgiveness and seek to stay in the relationship we love. David is willing to do the hard work and live a life of service. Striving to follow God’s commandments and live a holy life.
Here’s the real takeaway:
When we mess up spiritually, we don’t have to quit and walk away. We can return. We can repent. We can seek forgiveness and ask God to restore what sin damaged.
As men, we’re often taught (sometimes without realizing it) that we shouldn’t ask for much for ourselves. We think about providing. We think about helping. We think about what others need.
So let me ask you directly:
What do you want?
Not selfishly. Intentionally.
What do you need from God right now?
- Do you need healing—physically or spiritually?
- Do you need to change some habits and “man up” in the right way?
- Are you stuck in a rut and tired of pretending it’s fine?
- Do you need your heart softened again toward God?
If any of that describes you, you’re not alone.
Take a step. Don’t do life alone. Ask God to work in you—and let the men around you help carry the burden too. Because iron sharpens iron, and God wants you strong in the places you’ve been weak.
See you Wednesday.
-Bryan
ETHOS 4 LIFE 