What does a Man of God look like?  What is the pattern God has designed for a Christian man to follow?

Too often, we let the culture marginalize our role as a man in marriage, as a father in the family, or as a man in our community.

Our culture has done a great job attacking and redefining the values and character traits our Heavenly Father intends for a man to pursue and follow.  This destructive attack on men as a husband, as a dad, and a leader of their family will continue unless you take becoming a Man of God seriously.  Do not be a man of this world. Be Kingdom focused and heavenly minded in everything you think, say and do.

Becoming a Man of God is a process; a life journey God expects you to travel. You are never alone on this pathway unless you choose to be by being disobedient to His Word and the Spirit of Truth.  The Spirit of God will clear the way for you if you will merely humble yourself, and pray, and seek God and turn from your wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Here are some points of pursuit in becoming a Man of God.

Be the spiritual leader of your home. “Be holy in all you do. Be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15). God desires each of His children to be just like His Son, Jesus.  This process is called Christ-likeness or in some circles, sanctification. Christ likeness is sacrificial, self-giving love. Are you Christ-like in all your relationships? “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; train yourself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7).  Set a good example for others to follow in your speech, life, love, faith and purity. Remember, true leadership does not come from a position or title.  Leaders must demonstrate the character traits worthy of being followed. In God’s design, if you follow His example set by Jesus, you will be a person of value for your family to follow. Being the leader of your home is not a privilege; it’s a tremendous responsibility.

Be above reproach. Be temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, teachable, gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27b)

Be a servant.  You must die to yourself.  Jesus demonstrated that there is no greater love than to lay down His life for others. This means to willingly put the welfare of others, especially your family, before your own.  This is a discipline that must be earned. On Jesus’ last night before his crucifixion, he washed the disciples’ feet to set an example for us.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master”.  (John 13:16).  Christ is our Master and Lord.

Be humble. Crucify the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  We are being renewed inwardly day by day.  “In Christ, you are a new creation; the old man has gone and the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Know whose you are. “You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10) Be at peace with who God made you to be. “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalms 100:3) Remember this; He is the vine and we are the branches.  He said “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)

God designed us to totally depend on Him moment by moment, recognizing that apart from Him we can do nothing.  You are to be what God uniquely designed you to be.  Each man has a specific equipping to match his calling which enables him to accomplish divine assignments in God’s incredible story of reconciliation.  Realize that each man has an essential role to play in God’s plan. Be a God-directed man. You will find peace and joy in your life as you are becoming what God has designed.

Work. Man was created to work, to trust and obey, and to choose to be totally dependent on God for everything. This is God’s intention for you. As sin was entering the world, the lies and deceptions immediately began, thus distorting God’s plans for you and your life here on earth ever since. Sometimes a man settles for something good when God has the best all ready for you.

Be a man of truth. Jesus said “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6)  Each of us must pursue the “real truth” found only in the Word of God.  “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Therefore, be a man of the Word.

Pursue God with all your heart. Our Heavenly Father is seeking for those who are seeking Him.  If we seek Him, He promises that He will be found.  “Seek and you will find” says Jesus (Luke 11:9)  Desire a closer walk with your Master.  He will never mislead you;  never forsake you;  never allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to say “no”; He prepares a place for you; He alone is worthy of all your praise.

Be a man of Integrity.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Do not compromise Truth or your identity in Christ; if you do, you will be exposed.  God will not be mocked.  We are placed in this world but are called to not be of this world.  Do what you say you will do.  At the point of decision, it’s always a good idea to ask yourself the now famous question; “What would Jesus do?”  Know God’s word. Do what is right and glorify your Savior in all things.

Be a listener. “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” (James 1:19-20)

Be a bringer. Bring a Biblical perspective to each sphere of your influence, i.e., wife, family, church, business, recreation and community. Each and every one you come in contact with is watching for the Lord in you to see that Christ is real. While we go, we are to bring.

Live a life worth following. You are placed in a position of great responsibility and family leadership by God’s design.  Be a person who lives an intentional life that is establishing a legacy for future generations to emulate.  Your humble commitment to walk in the Truth, serves others, and be an ambassador for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is no small task.  Your life, lived well, has eternal consequences to the third and fourth generation. Live in the now.  The past is the past. We can learn from it, however, God has redeemed the past.  He wants us to live in the present and look forward to our eternal future.

Receive all that God has for you.  The Spirit equips you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23) If these character traits are not totally operative in your life, you merely need to repent to God and ask forgiveness from the one you have offended and then ask God to teach you His ways.  Remember, His ways are not your ways.  But His ways are right and leads to a life that is pleasing to Him.

Be a warrior.  Fight for your marriage. Satan desires to destroy God’s intention for you and your mate.  He wants you to fall in line with his agenda and destroy your family from within thereby weakening the purposes God has for you to live a victorious life for His Honor and His Glory.

One of Satan’s biggest lies is to get you to believe that he can be defeated by mere human effort.  You must sit, walk and then stand. You sit in the presence of the Lord, daily; totally dependent on Him.  You then walk only in the power of the Holy Spirit with the “Full Armor of God” ( Ephesians 6:10 – 18).  Then and only then are you fully equipped to stand against the wiles of the great deceiver and destroyer.  Be a Warrior!  God designed you to be a warrior.

The Bottom Line.  What this world has to offer is all vanity, it’s all meaningless. Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Be exhorted to remember that “every knee will bow before me: every tongue will confess to God.  So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14: 11-12)

by Nick Nicoli