Today’s Bible reading is 1 Kings 2 and Luke 9.
“Be strong. Show yourself a man.” What if we looked beyond Hollywood and headlines and cultural stereotypes to Scripture in order to understand what real strength is? What masculinity as God intended really involves?
In 1 Kings 2, Israel’s baton of royalty is being passed from father to son:
When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies…” (1 Kings 2:1-3)
In Luke 9, the King of kings said to all:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23-25)
By the time our Bibles reach Paul’s first letter to Christians in Corinth:
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Cor 16:13-14)
“Be strong. Show yourself a man.” What if we looked beyond Hollywood and headlines and stereotypes to Scripture? What would we find about God-shaped masculinity and strength?
Fill your heart with God’s wisdom. Deny yourself and follow Jesus. Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Let all that you do be done in love. Act like men. Be strong.
That’s a worthy challenge to answer this week.