"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
When I was a freshman at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, myself and a couple buddies felt led to start a christian fraternity on our campus. As we began looking into it, we discovered that it is extremely difficult to do so without sponsorship of an already existing fraternity. One of my buddies, Chad Cain, knew of a great group of young men who were involved in a christian fraternity on the Texas Tech campus in Lubbock, Texas. They were known as Kappa Upsilon Chi, which signifies "Keeping Under Christ". Well to make a long story short, through prayer and their guidance, we brought Kappa Upsilon Chi to Wayland. I, along with eleven of my brothers, became the founding fathers of KYX Alpha Class Beta Chapter (You can learn more by clicking this link: Kappa Upsilon Chi - KYX). I mention all of this because the motto verse of the fraternity is Proverbs 27:17. We became a brotherhood of believers that would encourage one another, help each other grow, and when necessary keep each other accountable. I somewhat lost that after leaving college. The reality is we need other men in our lives as brothers in Christ for all those things. There is no such thing as a "lone-ranger christian", we need one another. This last weekend I was blessed with and "Iron Sharpening Iron" moment. I must first admit that I have been going through a "desert" season in my life spiritually. It has been very dry, and at times, there is seemingly no relief in sight. We had some of our good friends up for a visit this weekend, and the Lord used Clayton greatly in my life! We spent the weekend in great conversation, all of which was grounded in the truth of God's word, and through that time, a spiritual oasis appeared. Truly as iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another! Thank you Lord for Clayton and for the victory!!!
As men, we are created, called, commanded and ordained to lead our families. This leadership is not limited to financial, but also encompasses emotional leadership as we love them, and spiritual leadership as we draw them closer to Christ. However, in order to fulfill this role, we must first be led ourselves. The apostle Paul wrote,
"Wives, submit to your own husband, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church" - Ephesians 5:22-29 (ESV)
The Word states that we are the head of the family, but in order to lead correctly, Biblically, we must be under Christ's headship. Christ must first lead us in order for us to lead them. Our headship is not a dictatorship, through which the husband can lord over the wife commanding her to obey his every whim, but rather it is a role that requires sacrificial, unconditional love! As head of our home, we are to love, nourish and cherish! He goes on to say,
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
As fathers, it is our responsibility to teach, train, and instruct our children in the admonition of the Lord. We are to be the model and example for them, particularly our sons, to pass on to their family! In this investment, through God's grace, we have an impact on generations to come. We must diligently pray for our families and ourselves that Christ rule!
Have you ever missed the Lord? Though He has indeed spoken, you have
missed what He was trying to tell you? Jesus said, "My sheep hear my
voice..." (John 10:27a). But when you miss it, the enemy tempts you to
think you are not His "sheep" or else you would've heard clearly. Your
misunderstanding can give way to doubt. It is in the second half of
this verse that we have the truth that sets us free from such a lie,
"...I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27b). We are know by the
Lord! I do believe we, on occasion, miss Him, misunderstand His
words. This of course is no fault of His clearness, but rather of our
sinful, finite nature. But this lack of understanding doesn't mean we
are less His sheep, anymore than your children misunderstanding your
parental instruction makes them less your children! Though they have
misunderstood, they still hear you, and more importantly you still know
them. Don't allow the devil to try to steal your identity in Christ
based on your misunderstanding. Rather continue to seek and allow the
Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. You are His, you are known by
Him, and can hear His voice!
