Though this is #7 in this series of posts, it is probably #1 in the priority of being intentional as a man. If a guy does not have a vibrant relationship with the Lord in private, it will show in public and in the home.
I've counseled numerous guys who are struggling with lust or laziness or pride and as I begin asking them questions about their devotion time, I find out that it has diminished or has lacked for a long period of time. The greatest way to fight for joy, renew your mind, and live out what biblical manhood is intended to be is by being a man of the Word. Knowing your Bible and applying it to life is the primary tool to be a godly man. Donald Whitney says, "No spiritual discipline is more important than the intake of God's Word" (Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p.28). And it is not just about knowing your Bible, it is about knowing the God of the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another..." This shows us that the way we change is by seeing the God of the Bible for who he really is. We change by beholding him. We behold Him by reading, meditating on, and memorizing His Word.
I can tell a distinct difference in my attitude, the strength of my fight against temptation, and my overall care for others if I spend time in God's Word in the morning or if I don't. My mind is renewed (Romans 12:2) and my joy is refreshed by surveying the wonderous cross through the written Word. My perpective on life becomes less about me and more about God's view on the world.
Much like prayer, our intake and meditation on God's word should be regular. We should set regular times to interact with God's Word and be changed by it. If you are like me and are weary in the mornings, it may be helpful to begin your devotion time reading a different book (to get the engine of your brain going) and then pick up your Bible. These are some books that I have found helpful in reading just a page or two to get my heart and mind primed.
- When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
- The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent
- Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
- God is the Gospel by John Piper
- What Jesus Demands of the World by John Piper
- The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
- The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard
- Quest for More by Paul David Tripp
I also encourage you to read chapters 2 and 3 of Donald Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. They are excellent in giving you a renewed passion for God's Word.
Obviously, men are not the only ones who need God's Word, but it seems that if men would lead in being passionate about God's Word, families and churches would be dramatically strengthened. The spiritual depth of the home starts with the husband/father. If we don't do it, we are putting our wives in a hard position and we diminish the glorious gospel to our children. There is no greater gift that you can give your wife and children than a love for God's Word and you leading by example.
3 comments:
I think you gave some of these pointers during the new member's class last year. Your point about priming your mind has always stuck with me.
One of the difficulties I have is that I feel I can either read the Bible in a very cursory way - without any reflection - or I want to really deep. And the problem with going really deep is that it involves an investment of more time than I typically have in a "morning devotion" setting. So I tend to put off bible study until I have time to study, which is probably a bad habit.
Mike, this was a great blog. I would like to add another author to your list: A. W. Tozer. One could read just his books for his lifetime and never run out of inspiration or spiritual challenges.
Hi Mike, I just found your blog through Lasting Divergence. As a wife and mother I can wholeheartedly agree with your statement here. My husband sets the tone for the following of Christ in our home, and it's because he spends time in the Bible daily that he takes his spiritual authority so seriously. My children and I benefit exponentially from his leadership.
Now my husband is taking an active role in mentoring other men to be the leaders of their homes, but he's finding he has to start from the beginning and with the basics. He is physically reading the Bible with them, explaining things as they go along, and helping them see where it is their faith needs to be. The changes in these men are astounding, and I've heard from one wife who is ever so thankful that her husband is taking this path.
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