A Message To Men
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." ~Phil.4:8
A Message To Men
What do you appreciate? What do you encourage and give attention to in your life? Is it what the world puts out in front of you on a daily basis? Does your appreciation gravitate towards that which entices you to lust and feeds your carnal desire, or do you appreciate purity, one who honors God, and propriety?
It’s interesting that we as men have written so many articles emphasizing the importance of being modest, not dressing like the world, nor giving brethren occasions to stumble; yet, how often do we as men show our approval for just the opposite when we allow our eyes to wonder to that which it should not?
Men, we have a responsibility to keep our eyes in our heads and to not look when those occasions present themselves, as they always will in the world. Our society grows increasingly provocative and, sadly, there are many who must fight the battle within their own homes with their children - and even their wives - desiring to dress like the world. Men, we must stand up for what is right and be the head of the household. Demand purity and live in such a way that your life demonstrates your appreciation of just that.
While we fight these battles, we also have the responsibility to not seek out those things which draw our minds away from godliness and cause impure thoughts. As men, we should have the self-control, character, decency, and integrity to make a covenant with our eyes as Job did:
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?” Job 31:1-3
We must realize that the end result of our refusal to look away, be the leader in our home, change the channel, throw away the magazine, flee pornography, or to avoid impure thoughts is our own destruction. We will be eternally lost if we do not clean up our act, purify our minds, and cleanse our ways - and lead our family in doing the same. Consider how seriously God views the purity of our hearts/minds:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” ~Matt.5:27-30
It is the responsibility of us all to dress modestly, women as well as men. Just so, it is also our duty as men to make sure we don’t encourage women who dress inappropriately by giving them our eyes and committing iniquity with them in our hearts. Men, have the respect for women that you should by not lusting after them or treating them as objects to be ogled – even if their dress and manner suggests that’s exactly what they desire; just because there is the opportunity does not mean you have the right. Take a lesson from Joseph:
"And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her." ~Gen.39:7-10
Purify your minds men. Appreciate that which will lead you in the paths of righteousness, and reject that which leads you astray. Take control of your life and flee those opportunities to sin; give no place to the devil in your life. Heaven awaits us if we will but fight the good fight, keep the faith, finish our course! We all fight these battles of the flesh, determine to win them in your own life and help your brothers to do the same. Stand tall, pick your head up, go to war with satan and tell him he no longer has a place in your life. Stand up and be the man God called you to be in your private life, in your public life, in your home, in the church! Be victorious, follow the Savior!
A Message To Men
What do you appreciate? What do you encourage and give attention to in your life? Is it what the world puts out in front of you on a daily basis? Does your appreciation gravitate towards that which entices you to lust and feeds your carnal desire, or do you appreciate purity, one who honors God, and propriety?
It’s interesting that we as men have written so many articles emphasizing the importance of being modest, not dressing like the world, nor giving brethren occasions to stumble; yet, how often do we as men show our approval for just the opposite when we allow our eyes to wonder to that which it should not?
Men, we have a responsibility to keep our eyes in our heads and to not look when those occasions present themselves, as they always will in the world. Our society grows increasingly provocative and, sadly, there are many who must fight the battle within their own homes with their children - and even their wives - desiring to dress like the world. Men, we must stand up for what is right and be the head of the household. Demand purity and live in such a way that your life demonstrates your appreciation of just that.
While we fight these battles, we also have the responsibility to not seek out those things which draw our minds away from godliness and cause impure thoughts. As men, we should have the self-control, character, decency, and integrity to make a covenant with our eyes as Job did:
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?” Job 31:1-3
We must realize that the end result of our refusal to look away, be the leader in our home, change the channel, throw away the magazine, flee pornography, or to avoid impure thoughts is our own destruction. We will be eternally lost if we do not clean up our act, purify our minds, and cleanse our ways - and lead our family in doing the same. Consider how seriously God views the purity of our hearts/minds:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” ~Matt.5:27-30
It is the responsibility of us all to dress modestly, women as well as men. Just so, it is also our duty as men to make sure we don’t encourage women who dress inappropriately by giving them our eyes and committing iniquity with them in our hearts. Men, have the respect for women that you should by not lusting after them or treating them as objects to be ogled – even if their dress and manner suggests that’s exactly what they desire; just because there is the opportunity does not mean you have the right. Take a lesson from Joseph:
"And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her." ~Gen.39:7-10
Purify your minds men. Appreciate that which will lead you in the paths of righteousness, and reject that which leads you astray. Take control of your life and flee those opportunities to sin; give no place to the devil in your life. Heaven awaits us if we will but fight the good fight, keep the faith, finish our course! We all fight these battles of the flesh, determine to win them in your own life and help your brothers to do the same. Stand tall, pick your head up, go to war with satan and tell him he no longer has a place in your life. Stand up and be the man God called you to be in your private life, in your public life, in your home, in the church! Be victorious, follow the Savior!
Thanks for dropping in.
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