God did not save you only for yourself but also for the salvation of others…
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
Before Jesus departed the earth and ascended to heaven, He commissioned us—those who both worship Him and sometimes doubt—to go and make disciples. The Apostle Paul, in closing his first letter to the Corinthians, instructs us in how we should go.
Jesus says, “Go.” Paul tells us how. He urges us to do all things in love, to be men of faith, to stand firm, to be strong, and most notably, to act like men.
What Does It Mean to Act Like Men?
Blogs, podcasts, and bookshelves are filled with self-help advice and manuals on how to be a man. Yet millennial through Gen Z men are crying out they don’t know what it means to be a man. Women lament, “Where have all the good men gone?”—even as they rage against what they call “toxic masculinity.” Meanwhile, men are struggling in their families, in the marketplace, and in academia. What does it really mean to act like a man? How does this connect to the reality of post-Resurrection Holy Week, the Great Commission to “Go,” and our return to a boring work week?
Keeping It Simple: Men Are Not Ashamed
At its core, acting like men means we refuse to live in shame.
First and foremost, we are not ashamed of the gospel. We are learning to resist Satan’s attempts to shame us whenever we step out to share our faith. We are not ashamed of how God created us. We walk confidently in the truth that we are made in God’s image and bear His likeness. We are not ashamed of our secret sins, because through the indwelling power of the resurrected Jesus and His amazing grace, we are actively pursuing gospel freedom. We are not ashamed of what God has or has not given us, trusting daily in His perfect providence. We are not ashamed of our weaknesses. Like the Apostle Paul, we have learned to be content with the power and grace of God that rests upon us in our weakness. Finally, we are not ashamed to walk side by side with other brothers and confess our sins. We know that living in the light of truth brings empowerment, freedom, and keeps us on the right course.
Acting Like Men Means We Are Not Ashamed to Stand Up
Acting like men also means we are not ashamed to rise up and be faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to us—our time, our talent, our treasure, and our tribe (the people He has placed in our care).
Above all, acting like men means we are confidently living in the indwelling presence, power, and strength of the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to do all things in love, just as Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-20.
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Tim. 1:12–14)
The Next Question…
-Who do you talk with about Acting Like Men?
-To who do you confess your sins to?
-What brothers encourage you daily to live as the man God created you to be?