Sacrificial Living: Assignment of Manhood

Instead of posting a blog based on the Verse of the Day, I wanted to comment on a men’s Bible study that I attended last night at the Life Church in Memphis where my wife and I were visiting our daughter and son-in-law. The Bible study focused on one of the initial sessions from “33 the Series: Journey to Authentic Manhood as modeled by Jesus in his 33 years on earth.” Following a DVD presentation that examined God’s mandate to authentic manhood expressed in Genesis, those present discussed some of the challenges that confront men in carrying out that mandate as husbands, fathers, co-workers, and in other areas of responsibility that men face each day.

After the meeting, I happened to think of previous blog entries in which I discussed the topic of manhood and what it means to be a man. In fact, my son-in-law and I were talking about that very subject the night before, as I shared with him, excerpts from Wild at Heart by John Eldredge and other related books. In reflecting on the session last night, I thought of this poem written a couple of years ago that captures the essence of one of the principal attributes of authentic manhood:

Sacrificial Living: Assignment of Manhood
Forgetting things left behind, I press toward the mark.
The passion that now inflames my life was once a spark.
This all-consuming fire, great light dispels the dark,
As I abide in God’s presence in a place beyond the Ark.

I continue to strive ever toward the highest good
With sacrificial living: assignment of manhood.

Like Christ, I endure the cross while despising the shame
And accept this high calling and embrace my new name.
By grace to stand in His presence without any blame,
I continue to strive ever toward the highest good.

Always remaining aware that God is in control,
I am still running to serve as my life’s highest goal.
This zeal for God and His Word burns deep within my soul,
With sacrificial living: assignment of manhood.

Being fully persuaded, I now know that I know
That God will fulfill His will and declare, “It is so!”
I set aside pride; where He leads me I will follow:
I continue to strive ever toward the highest good.

Looking to the future, I walk by faith, not by sight.
To do all the will of God still remains my delight
To follow Christ’s command that I should be salt and light
With sacrificial Living: assignment of manhood.

To speak the Word of life in all that I do and say,
To follow in the steps of Christ all along the way.
Until the final victory, I must watch, fight and pray.
I continue to strive ever toward the highest good.

Triumphant from faith to faith and glory to glory,
I still seek God’s face in the place of my destiny.
Life continues to unfold as a scroll before me.
With sacrificial living: assignment of manhood.

With a love so strong, yet ever so tender,
Nothing can dissuade me, nor can anything hinder.
I will hold fast to the faith and never surrender.
God’s Word hidden in my heart, I’ll always remember:

I continue to strive ever toward the highest good
With sacrificial living: assignment of manhood.

Chris Christian offers “A Living Sacrifice,” a musical expression of this concept:

A living sacrifice: Expression of worship

In this case, the Amplified Bible offers this expanded rendering of the Verse of the Day for October 29, 2013:

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

I recall a quote heard frequently in the early days of my realizing what it meant to accept Jesus Christ as savior and to make him Lord: “We are born to live, and born again to serve.”

Romans 12:1 reminds us that serving God is an expression of worship.  In his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus Christ in a discussion about the place of worship spoke these words:

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4: 23-24 New King James)

One expression of worship involves our offering praise and thanksgiving unto God, that is the “sacrifice of praise . . . the fruit of our lips,” whereby we declare that He is worthy of our worship and adoration. The Alleluia Singers offer an illustration of this kind of worship in “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise.”

Another expression of worship involves doing or serving, as we follow God’s command and make a sacrifice to do His will, to serve Him alone. A musical illustration of Romans 12:1 is “Take My Life—A Living Sacrifice” offered by Chris Christian:

The Verse of the Day reminds us of our “reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”  Listen to the Romans 12-1-2 Song “A Living Sacrifice” (Christian Scripture Praise Worship Song with Lyrics).