“…what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…” – 2 Peter 3:11b
REFERENCE:
Men’s empowerment has not received enough attention. Who helps him fight his fears? To who does he cry? Who teaches him how to be a man of honor or how to treat a woman? Who helps him navigate his culture’s definition of sexuality and manhood? The world paused to celebrate fathers yesterday; in the next week, inspired2Go will focus on men to empower them. These will be invaluable lessons for women and younger men too.
Manner is the way you do things or behave towards people. It speaks of your behavior or attitude towards your spouse, family, colleagues, etc. In essence, what kind of man are you? A man is very important in any society because he is the hinge upon which several things turn. “As goes the father, so goes the home. As goes the home, so goes the nation.” God created man in His image to have dominion and be fruitful. But since his fall in Eden, man has struggled to fulfill that mandate; this is why he is under so much attack – emotionally, socially, financially, health-wise, etc. His responsibilities are a lot, and the pressure to be a man of integrity in today’s world is quite overpowering. However, God wants him restored to his ‘glory state.’
Men often admire successful male figures (football stars, celebrities, or the super-rich); we see what we like to become in them. However, some man or boy somewhere also looks up to you. Men are big on financial success; for them, having money is vital. They often define themselves by their possessions, accomplishments, and wealth; sadly, when they lose any of these, they lose their sense of identity and self-worth.
A musician said, “If the bible was re-written and the writers put me in it, I wonder how my life would read?” As we learn from male models in the bible to correct errors and affirm virtues in ourselves, I pray that you will be rooted, built up in God, and established in the faith. I pray that God will make your life a reference point of greatness for generations to come, in Jesus’ name.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Genesis 41:38-39, I Corinthians 10:11-13 & Romans 15:4
REFLECTION
Look back at your journey – your quest for purpose, how you manage betrayals and letdowns, your character, relationship with others, especially the opposite sex. Note the qualities or virtues you affirm, which ones need to be changed, or those you need help overcoming. How do you conduct yourself when you abase and when you abound? Does adversity reveal another you? What manner of man are you?
Amen! 🙏🏾
Grace to be a better man.