Becoming a Faithful Man

I like the quote that GG (Gene Getz) provides on pg. 18 of The Measure of a Man. He is referring to two business managers who overheard one his discipleship studies. He notes their comments about the list of characteristics of a mature Christian.

"You know, . . . this is the first time we've heard this list of qualifications from the Bible. But we've learned from experience in hiring people for middle-management positions that these are the kind of men we're looking for. We want employees who have a good reputation. We don't want a man who is cheating on his wife or sleeping around, because chances are, he'll cheat the company. We certainly don't want a man who has all kinds of domestic problems. If he can't handle his own family, how in the world is he going to handle people in our steel mill?"

How indeed!

So, think about your own qualifications as a man of God (or child of God for you women out there). We must admit that we are all flawed, and yet God calls us to himself and asks us to serve. Why? Because we are worthy? Nope. Yet, God has a plan, and we are part of it, weaknesses and all.

And so, we are part of a bigger plan--a great adventure with God. And he calls us to be like him--more than we can be on our own. But we cannot be more without giving ourselves to God and allowing him to make more out of us.

Lemons need sugar to become lemonade.
Concrete needs sand and gravel in order to be a solid foundation.
Fuel needs oxygen and a spark before it becomes flame.

What other analogies would you add? And what do you need in order to become the man (or woman, for you women out there) that God wants you to be?

In the end, we need to realize that our current life is a reflection on our savior and our faith. We are called to be more like God. Are we really accomplishing that goal--is it even a goal for us?

I can't get Philippians 3:12: Not that I have already attained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold for me.

What has he taken hold of? My first impression is my salvation and new nature. He has obtained this for me. Now, as Paul, I must strive to reach the fullness that Christ had already purchased for me in his blood. The victory is won--let the transformation begin!