Lord Give us Men
Jesus set up a Standard that is above the standards of this world. To enter into his presence and to become his discipleship is on God’s terms not ours. His recruiting methods were contrary to the World’s. He did not appeal to the sin nature we inherited from Adam. His terms of discipleship were not acceptable to most men.
According to Mark 8:34-38, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
The people had asked Jesus, what is your plan? He said, those guys over there…. He pointed to a despised tax collector and lowly Galilean fishermen and said, “those guys who are looked down upon by the world. They are the plan.”
He said, “take up your cross and follow me.” The cross is the symbol of death. In order to follow Christ, his non-negotiable term is to die to self. We must give up our selfish selves in order to follow him.
It’s not about the cost, it’s about the value. What is it that you love? You value what you love. The first and great commandment is to love God above all. The first of the Ten Commandments says, thou shalt have no other God’s before me, including the god of self. The Aramaic text says, “thou shall have no other gods between your face and my face.” To be a follower of Christ nothing shall come between you and God.
Many say they are committed to following Christ. However Jesus would not commit himself to them. He knew what was in the heart of man. He knew that they wanted to come on their own terms, not God’s. Oswald Chambers said, “When Jesus bids a man come, he bids him come and die.” We must forsake our selfish selves in order to approach God’s throne of grace with a heart of meekness and humility. A true disciple hungers, not for the things of this world, but for the righteousness of God through Jesus’ sacrifice for sin on our behalf.
Jesus did not say, “you have to do the right thing”… he simply said, “follow me.” He led not by eloquence of speech, but by his example. He said, “I always do my Father’s will.” He said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Their lives were wrapped up in their fishing business. However Jesus implied, “when you follow me you will catch men in stead of fish.” He called his disciples to cast a net into the world to catch those God has prepared to become captive to the Lord. Either we are slaves, captive to sin and the sin nature we inherited from Adam or we by the freedom of our will become captive to Christ.
Jesus said, “unless you hate mother, father, sister, and brother, you cannot come follow me.” Compared to every other relationship and the things of this world, you need to love me and hate everything else compared to your love of God.
He said, “if you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed… and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Freedom is not in following the things of this world… family, friends, material possessions, reputation, worldly honor, or selfish ambition…. Freedom is known only through knowing the truth as a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ. To know him is to know truth for Jesus said, “I am the way the truth, and the life… no man comes unto the father but by me.”
There is no security in the things of this world. The only security is in the Word of God made manifest in Christ. This is why missionary Jim Elliot said, “he is no fool who loses that which he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.”
The greatest danger in life is not failure to succeed in our ambitions. The greatest danger is to succeed in things that do not matter. Everything in this life will soon be passed, only that which is done in Christ shall last. What endures? Everything we accumulate in this life will come to naught…. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. The only things that endure are the things of the spirit of God in Christ…. God himself is our eternal portion… Jesus said, “Do not covet the things of this world. They are only temporary… here today and gone tomorrow. Though this world will pass away, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
When we have our vertical relationship with God in order, then our horizontal relationships with others will be blessed. The greatest blessing is not in seeking the blessings but in seeking the Blessor.
How shall we then live? What as men of God shall be our purpose, our calling and the fruit of our labor?
When Pete was called to minister to men he penned this prayer.
Lord Give Us Men…
…Men with stout hearts and fire in their eyes. Men who fear nothing but you, and who owe nothing to anyone but acts of love.
Lord give us men.
Men who are willing to live and die for you, who name the name of Christ and live for His glory.
Lord give us men.
Men who know your voice and whose greatest delight is to do your will. Who are slow to anger, quick to listen, and eager to forgive.
Lord give us men,
Men who love their wives and honor you in their homes; Who are living epistles of salt and light to all they know and meet. Men whose sacrifice, service, and love are renown and who are known to have spent time with you.
Lord give us men!
These kinds of men! For the world is desperate for them.
Lord give us men,
Men of faith and action, who have eternity in their hearts and only you as their focus, passion and reason for living. Men of whom the world is not worthy.
Lord, these men are few, but they know that you use ordinary men to do extraordinary things through your power. That you use foolish men to shame the wise; weak men who because you become strong.
Men who are known more for their availability than for their ability. Men who choose to decrease so that you may increase.
Lord to me this seems like an impossible request, but these are the kind of men you make when they give their lives in total abandonment and absolute trust to you.
Lord let me be a man like this among men like this.
Lord let me be that man. —Pete McKenzie 2006
May this be our prayer too,
…Lord, that we may live to the praise of the glory of thy grace.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
