Blog 26: The FIGHT Series (Part 1) Fight For Your Families

It's important to remember WHY and WHO we fight for?

This weeks blog has been written specifically for the guys. That's not to mean that you ladies can't or shouldn't read it. In fact I encourage you read it and pass it on to your significant other, your husband, son … after all we all know that, a wise man always does what his significant other tells him to do!

I'm an ordinary kind of guy, trying to make my way though the maze of life. There are daily challenges to be faced and obstacles to be overcome.

Often I screw up … as a husband, a dad and as a disciple of Jesus.

Perhaps you can relate to this too.

Daily dilemmas

St Paul faced similar dilemmas. He wrote, ‘I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.’—Romans 7:15 (New Living Translation)

As a man, the challenge I face daily is, how to react when I stuff up? Should I;

take my bat and ball and walk off in a huff.
hide under a rock until the danger or storm blows over.
make excuses.
blame someone else …
man up and learn from the situation?

Remember

Daily I need to remember;

WHY I need to man up? (and more importantly)
WHO I am doing this for?

FIGHT For Your Families: Photograph: Samuel Zeller, Unsplash

My favourite drama series, after The West Wing is Band of Brothers.

Band of Brothers follows, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th, 101st Airborne (Air Assault), Easy Company from their initial training as raw recruits (1942) up to and beyond ‘VE Day.’ (1945)

When I watch Band of Brothers I’m forced to ask myself, ‘Could I have done that? … sight a rifle, ease the trigger and shoot (kill) someone.

Think it through before you act

With little time to think through the moral dilemma in the heat of action… surely I would have given the situation serious consideration, before putting my life or the lives of those I served with, my band of brothers at risk.

Long before accepting the responsibilities as a soldier, I would have answered two questions:

Why was I doing this?
Who was I doing this for?

Stay on track

The project was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. A huge project by today's standard, but when you consider this story takes place around 445BC, a phenomenal feat of engineering.

Things were messy. Individuals with vested interests did not want the project to succeed. There was dissection within the ranks of the Israelites, plots to derail the project—and if necessary assassinate the project manager—Nehemiah.

Despite the threats and adversities Nehemiah maintained his focus on the job at hand, and his faith in God.

Nehemiah led and inspired the Israelites to remember three things:

God is great and glorious.
don't be afraid of the enemy.
fight for your families and your homes.

‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!’—Nehemiah 4:14 (New Living Translation)

God could have protected the Israelites by Himself, but instead He chose to partner with them.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem had to accept some of the responsibility for their own protection. They had to overcome their fear, they had to trust that God would stand with them as they faced their enemies.

God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and create order out of chaos. Despite criticism, dissension, open hostility and death threats the project was completed.

You can read the full story in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.

Overcoming the odds

What drove Nehemiah to overcome such intimidating odds?

He understood and focused on his motivation—his ‘Why’ and his ‘Who’.

Nehemiah made sure that those who worked with him understood the reason for staying true to their calling and finishing the task.

They were building to protect their sons, their daughters, their wives, their homes—their family.

Failure was not an option. They knew why they had to build and if necessary they had to be prepared to fight.

Nehemiah didn’t want a fight, all he wanted to do was clean up the place and get the job done. He didn't go looking for conflict or discension, but when those he loved and cared for were threatened, he focused on his ‘Why’ and his ‘Who’.

The Israelites armed up, remained vigilant and continued to build. The rest is history.

God could have protected the Israelites by Himself, but instead He chose to partner with them.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem had to accept some of the responsibility for their own protection. They had to overcome their fear, they had to trust that God would stand with them as they faced their enemies.

Put yourself in the picture—Nobody else can fill your role

Today the fight is for the mind and soul of our families. God expects us to man up, accept the responsibility and protect those we love.

We have a strategic role to play in the fight for our families. No one else can fill our role. Not our wives—not another man—Us.

God will hold you and me solely accountable.

Our commission is to model a life that is an example of what a mature man of God looks like.

Despite our failures as a husband, dad, friend or colleague, we worship and serve a God who forgives, picks us up and empowers us to continue the fight.

The God we worship is awesome, Nehemiah 4:14 and it is our responsibility to authentically relate to Him, not just for our sakes, but for the sake of our families.

What does God expects of his men?

He want’s us to trust Him, be accountable for shielding our families from Satan’s attack and be prepared to fight for them.
He is calling us to live lives of integrity in all areas of our lives—Our finances, spiritual, family, career, social, Intellectual and physical.
He is calling us to train our children, our families to live complete lives under the Lordship of Christ.

The little things matter

It’s the little things that matter, the simple things:

When was the last time you read a book or went for a walk? What are you doing to be a better you?
What habits are you cultivating to maintain a balanced lifestyle?
When was the last time you attended a conference or seminar, in order to up-skill yourself?
When was the last time you prepared and followed a financial budget?
How’s your one-on-one time with God?

In post-modern Australia it’s way too easy to let society dictate how we should think and how we should live.

But there is a better way—God’s way.

God's Way

Men, God has put us here for a reason and He will hold us accountable for our choices.

Tweet this: ‘Men, When faced with a moral dilemma, always Remember Your Why and Who!’—http://bit.ly/2HTNZ9C

Prayer:

Father God, You love me, and you set the supreme example of what it means to be a ‘man of God’. You fought for and paid the ultimate price for my salvation and I am grateful. Today I choose to ‘man-up’ and accept your commission. Holy Spirit I ask for divine wisdom, discernment and courage to make wise choices, lead by example and if necessary fight to protect my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Call To Action—MEN:

For the next 7 days deliberately schedule ten minutes alone-time with God. Tell Him you are prepared to do what ever it takes to fight for your family.
Keep a pen and notepad handy to write down God's response to your request.
Tell him you are prepared to take a stand for; whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)