Dear Man of God

Hey Ya'll, 
So typically I write to an audience that is mainly girls but I decided to switch it up a bit. This blog post came to mind when I was walking through campus and sat in my discipleship group. I realized that the majority of people in my discipleship group were girls and was thinking to myself.... Men of GOD....WHERE ARE YOU???

When I think of guys in college, I think of the "guy that likes to go out with all his friends, have a good time (maybe too much of a good time) , goes out on the weekends drinks and tries to get girls. Now... I know that I am totally stereotyping but the moral of the story is...... you don't often see a MAN OF GOD. But I know they are out there. They are everywhere actually. They just might be "hiding" 

So what is an example of a MAN OF GOD you might ask?? 

We will get to that but first, when i think of a MAN OF GOD, I think of my dad (a man that loves Jesus more than anything, a man that loves his family, and sits at the dinner table every night to read the truth." I think of my great-grandpa Dean, (a man that read his bible day and night for hours at a time, a man that I listened to pray for each and every family member and never forgot a single one, this man was truly the biggest man of God I will ever know) 

But rarely do I catch a guy deep in his Bible at school, now Im not saying MEN OF GOD don't exist in college, because they do. But what Im saying is that guys....

DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE A MAN OF GOD, in my opinion there is no better man. 

Sure your friends might think you are weird, crazy even perhaps, it's probably not going to be considered cool or trendy, but GET OVER IT! You will grow like you never thought you could..
As I always say, why blend in when you were born to stand out. 

My dad and I went on a daddy - daughter date the other week and when we were on our way home I was asking a ton of questions about things Im not sure on, like what happens when... haha anyway... my dad said something that really stuck with me. 
He said that when God comes we might have to fight, like we could literally die fighting for God. 
That I might have to be given the choice to be shot and claim God, or to die and not claim him. 
I thought to myself, well duh im dying for God because he died for me and I love him more than anything. But it made me think about those at school, work, etc. That already deny him because it's "not cool" and then I thought to myself, how many would choose not to take a bullet for God. 
Thinking of this made me really sad. 
Anyway this is an extreme but it got me really thinking about everything. OKAY moving on Sarah...

WHAT MAKES A MAN OF GOD?
I think a MAN OF GOD is someone who follows God, and obey's His commands with joy. A man who doesn't live for things of this life but for the things of eternity, someone who willingly serves God and gives freely. Maybe Micah 6:8 will help you get a perspective. 
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

A man of God goes against society even though it may be hard. A man of God considers those who are rejected by society, those who are lonely; he is a listener to people and their problems and does not judge. 
Now I'm not saying a MAN OF GOD is perfect, he is far from it. We all as humans are far from perfect, We make bad choices, we sin. But God forgives us. 
But I don't want the guys I see on campus to hide their faith, or think that it isn't cool. 

JESUS IS COOL. JESUS IS THE TRUTH. 

The final result is that he walks humbly with his God, knowing that he must rely solely upon Him to be able to live to the full and persevere to the end. 

I asked my dad what a man of God was to him and he said, 
A MAN OF GOD....Is one to be in the word daily, be in prayer daily. And be a man of integrity 
Integrity: "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness"
I think the biggest thing my dad said, was "do what is right not what is easy" 

My dad is a great example of a MAN OF GOD. He is always in his Bible, he has led his family like none other and taught me what a MAN OF GOD truly is so that one day I can find one of my own to lead my household. So thanks dad for teaching me to keep my standards high lol 

So let's talk about the characteristics that make up a MAN OF GOD...

Characteristics of a MAN OF GOD

• Step Up: Lead. Initiate. Be a Man of Action. 
  • “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” – Ezekiel 22:30
• Speak Out: Do not be silent. Be Courageous. Fear God, NOT Man. Speak the Truth in Love. 
  • Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9
  • But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. – 1 Peter 3:15
• Stand Strong: Don't give in when you are challenged, attacked, or criticized. 
  • “Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests, and to the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 1:18-19
  • Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8-9
• ​Stay Humble: Be vigilant against Pride. Don't think less of yourself, think of yourself less. 
  • Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it, for still my prayer is against their wicked deeds. – Psalm 141:5
  • ​You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:5-7
• Serve The King: Seek first His Kingdom, His Glory, and His Righteousness. Hope is in the eternal. Live for a greater reward. 
  • “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
  • For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. – Mark 10:45

​
Love Ya'll, 
​Sarah