Philippians 2:7-8  But he emptied himself taking on the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men,  v:8  and becoming a man he humbled himself, becoming obedient, even unto death, yes even the death of the cross.

1 Corinthians 13:11  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, and I felt like a child; now that I have become a man I have put away childish things. 

The journey toward authentic manhood is the journey of a lifetime.  It does not happen by accident and it is not something that is much revered in our present society, and this has proven to be a disastrous trend for our country and our families! Speaking from my own experience I had no idea how much work it takes to be the kind of man that the Bible teaches that we are to be.  I was raised in a Christian home but my father was the youngest of twelve kids and he was raised by his older siblings.  Having someone emulate godly masculinity to us is absolutely vital because it is worth repeating, becoming a godly man is no accident, and without mentors and shepherds who have accepted the challenge and found success, we can never attain the goal on our own. My father found himself in the same place I found myself, and that was hurled into the world without a clue as to what our true identity is suppose to be? A mans true identity is to be found in Christ alone!

The Bible says that there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus!  Manhood is an exalted position, not because we are superior to women or children but because of the responsibility that God places at the door of our homes, neighborhoods, and nation.  Today’s verses give us a clear example of the requirements to BECOMING A MAN!  Looking at the first verse in our selection we see right away that for Jesus servitude was at the heart of the process as he was being fashioned into manhood.  Having the heart of a servant requires obedience and humility for no one can truly serve God without all of these characteristics, nor can we learn to serve others the way that we should, for in Jesus and His pursuit of being the man God called Him to be we see these three attributes working together to fulfill the Father’s purpose. He did not care what it cost Him as He emptied Himself to be obedient to His call.  That, I believe, is the price of true manhood!  He would have never been exalted sitting around bossing the disciples, barking out orders, and using His female followers as objects of pleasure.  Of course, if this were the case He would not of had many followers, but instead we see someone who poured Himself out serving others, and that is why they followed Him!

In the second passage chosen we see still more clues to obtaining our goal!  The mind and will or emotions of a man play a huge part in our journey.  Paul tells us that when he was a child he reasoned and felt as a child, but when he became a man he put out of his mind and emotions the petty and irresponsible notions that so easily influence a child’s behavior.  So what we can deduce from Paul’s instruction is that to find the way toward living the love life we must challenge and be challenged by the way that we think.  We must measure our thoughts and motivations by the example of Christ. We must ask ourselves if we are serving or being served, and we are ever in a struggle to find balance in our thoughts, emotions, motivations, and behavior.

Becoming a man is a purposeful and lifelong commitment that requires a diligent and determined effort.  The process is one of emptying one’s self and becoming a servant to our families and communities. It requires humility and a teachable spirit that will allow our thoughts to be weighed in the counsel of godly mentors as no one of us is capable of this monumental task alone! Finally, we must put out of our lives the things we know that are childish and immature, whether that is emotional or spiritual, if we are to become the men God desires us to be!  When it is all said and done if my family wrote nothing else upon my tombstone other then, “He Became a Man,” that would be enough for me!

Quote of the day:  ” For I have known him, to the end that he may lead his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice;  to the end that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”   God     Genesis 18:19

The journey of a lifetime begins with a commitment toward a desired end and that first step is the momentum that carries us throughout all the days of our lives. Will you make that commitment with me today?