Ephesians 5:25: Beyond sacrificial living

 

From time to time, as we read and study the Word of God, we may encounter a reference to particular verse that we may have heard numerous times before, but this fresh encounter offers an illustration or application of a particular verse in a specific content that widens our understanding and deepens our appreciation of what the God is really saying. Recently I thought of a verse that is often recited at weddings and other occasions where the role of the husband is presented:

Ephesians 5:25 (AMP):

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

A year ago, I attended a men’s Bible study with one of my sons-in-law, focusing on “The Journey to Authentic Manhood,” as modeled by Jesus Christ in his 33 years on earth. The session was one of a series of discussions related to some of the challenges that confront men in the quest for “authentic manhood” in our relationships as husbands, fathers, co-workers, and other areas of responsibilities.

In thinking about Ephesians 5:25, I also thought of this poem 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.

Recently I heard a reference to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in his undying commitment to the Church. As I listened to Chris Webb, spoken-word poet, his riveting rendition of “Mattress” aroused in me an even deeper appreciation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who modeled the depth of sacrificial living that men should have for their wives:

Having heard and seen this, my reading and understanding of Ephesians 5:25 will never be the same.

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 New Prescription: “Medicine (For Someone Else)”—More Good Medicine

These antique medicine bottles bring to mind a song that I recently heard, bringing  to mind days when I “made medicine,” as a pharmacist.

Recently as I listened to a local gospel music radio station, I heard a rendition of “Medicine (For Someone Else)” performed by Ruben Studdard and The Black Academy Choir.  Described as a “comforting soul ballad,” the song brought to mind my blog “Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe,” where I thought this would make a wonderful musical prescription that I could add to the shelves of “Good Medicine.” The following excerpt from an entry posted at the beginning of last year captures the essence of what I hoped the blog would be:

During the first week of the first month of the New Year 2012, as I prepare a blog entry for Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe, I recall the early days of my first profession as a registered pharmacist. For more than 25 years I was a practicing pharmacist, but now as a writer and minister, I use my skills in poetry and prose while incorporating music and visual arts to “fill prescriptions” designed to minister to the heart and soul in this blog.

To become more faithful in blogging, I plan to post “Word for the Day: Daily Dose of Good Medicine.” I invite you to stop by and see what remedies I have been working on recently, as I continue to compound “After the Art of the Apothecary.”

To learn more about “Good Medicine” from Dr. J. click here.

Now for your listening enjoyment, here is “Medicine (For Someone Else).”

As I listened to the song again, I realize that so often seemingly adverse situations that we encounter and endure turn out to be a blessing and inspiration for others whom we provide comfort to, as the God of all comfort comforts us in all our trials:

1 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

The lyrics to the Ruben Studdard song remind us, that as we walk in the steps of Christ we will come to realize that our lives are not really about us but about others:

Take the trials that you been through

And all the times life made you blue

Search down deep within yourself

Ooohhh make it medicine for someone else, someone else

Not too long ago, after a very stimulating discussion at a men’s meeting at our church, I was inspired to write a poem related to a distinguishing marks of manhood, described as “sacrificial living.”

Sacrificial Living: Assignment of Manhood

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12: 1

 

Forgetting things left behind, I press toward the mark.

The passion that now enflames 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.

 

Hearing the song with its reference to “making medicine” along with other scriptures and conversations, I continue to be grateful for the constant reminders to live sacrificially.

Prescriptions filled in Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe provide “Good Medicine” for those who partake.