9Mar 10
Quit You Like Men
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The wild nature of the untamed creature attracted the attention of our entire group. Detained within the confines of a simple live trap, a native bobcat from the mountains of North Carolina lie crouched with eyes darting this way and that. Upon approaching, not a few were surprised by its vicious behavior. Her powerful claws and jaw had already torn a rod of the metal cage. With eyes glaring and teeth showing, the bobcat growled and hissed at the approaching audience. An attempted but futile lunge, let us know this was no pussy cat ready to curl up on your lap but rather a ferocious fighter.
The battle is raging. The lines have been drawn. Neutrality is not an option. Our enemy is no novice. He walks about as a ferocious & roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. We must stand. The battle will be intense. But if we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small.
Men, there is a temptation to seek the vanities of riches, comfort, and fame and so rest content with mediocrity and half-hearted warfare. But may we remember that Godliness with contentment is great gain. Paul exhorted Timothy to, “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2Tim. 2:3).” How often have we, in the face of fear and discomfort, chosen the ‘soft choice?’
It is time to push through the hardness. To, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1Co 16:13).”
Brethren, let us, “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight (1Ch 19:13).”
What a good word, Joshua. Thank you for sounding the battle cry. We must engage the enemy with the right weapons for the battle, the Word and prayer. Thank you for the encouragment.
God has been convicting me of this very thing Joshua. “…I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” When will we stand up in faith like the valiant examples God has given us in Hebrews 11:33? What kind of a God do we think we serve? As long as pornography, for example, is displayed in public, the Church of America can consider itself a failure. But that can change.
Wow!
Well-said Joshua.