In our world where ethics, morality, and even common decency are on a rapid decline the greatest challenge may well be the one facing us MEN, Will we DARE to stand in every circumstance of our life for that which is good vs. bad; righteous vs. evil ... to be men with character?
It has been said, "If you don't stand for something,
ARE YOU STANDING ... OR FALLING?
Being Men of Agape is being Men filled with love - God's love - Being men who in all walks of life and in every arena of life will DARE to face, and embrace the challenge to stand for the righteousness of God by following Christ's example.
"Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth, he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will not be moved forever, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." Psalms 112:1-7
Now is the time ... to Take Our
Stand for Goodness.
"For now we live, if we stand fast in the Lord."
I Thessalonians 3:8
An Example
A Teachable Spirit
A Seeker of Wisdom
Be Steadfast
Be Faithful
Be Humble
BE A MAN OF CHARACTER
Be an Example (I Timothy 4:12; I Peter 2:9
In Word [godly edifying] -- I Timothy 1:4b; Eccleciastes 5:2; Matthew 12:36; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Luke 4:32In Conversation [actions] -- Psalm 51:13; James 5:19-23; I Peter1:14-16; Acts 11:21; 2 Peter 2:11-13In Charity [agape love] -- I Timothy 1:5; 2 Corinthians 13In Spirit [attitudes] -- I Timothy 4:13-16; Proverbs 3:3, 7In Faith -- I Timothy 1:19; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Romans 4:20-24In Purity -- 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Peter 4:3; Psalm 24:3-5; Proverbs 6:20-25Have a Teachable Spirit
Learn from my mistakes -- Proverbs 1:22-23Learn from Study -- 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2-18; Psalm 1:2Learn from example of others -- 1 Peter 2:21-23Be a Seeker of Godly Wisdom -- 1 Corinthians 14:20; Proverbs 3:13-18;
Job 28:12 - 18Be Steadfast in faith, and in performing duties - James 1:6-8;
2 Thessolonians 2:15; John 15:6Be Faithful [ loyal] -- Proverbs 28:20; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Proverbs 11:13;
Luke 16:10-11Be Humble -- Proverbs 22:14; 1 Peter 5:5; Colossians 3:12;
Proverbs 11:2; Matthew 8:8"Marred in the making,
but with wondrous patience takes He the clay - Into His hands, and fashions slowly In His own way - Just what I was the world can only see, He looks beyond and sees what I can be." J.Oswald Sanders
"Men say: I think this course is right because my conscience does not reprove me. Therefore it is right for me. Nonsense. Jesus told His disciples that some day men would kill them. 'A time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God' (John 16:2). He pointed out that there is such a thing as moral colourblindness. (Matthew 6:23)" -
Robert E. Speer, Every Life is a Plan of God by J. Oswald Sanders , copyright 1992
Dare to Be A "Daniel" - Dare to Stand Alone!
Unendorsed Links
"God's Love"
"There is no liberty to men whose passions are stronger than their religious feelings; there is no liberty to men in whom ignorance predominates over knowledge; there is no liberty to men who know not how to govern themselves."
Henry Ward Beecher (1775-1863)
Learn to "Stand Alone"!
"In order to choose the narrow way that has only a few people on it and reject the broad way that is crowded with people, we must learn how to "stand alone" for what is right. This ability is vital, because when the world realizes that you are not going their way, they will put pressure on you to conform. Jesus spoke of this in His prayer: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).
"Standing Alone" for God's truth begins with an inward conviction and is expresed in outward words and actions.
"To stand alone for God's truth means to go against the crowd and make decisions based on what is right, not on what is popular at the moment. Our actions should not be merely reactions to people; they should be the results of wholehearted love for the Lord and a wholesome fear of Him (see Psalm 119:97-104). When we oppose those who are asking us to go against our convictions, a spirit of meekness rather than condemnation is essential. (see II Timothy 2:24-26)
"Elijah stood alone when it seemed that the whole nation was rejecting God's ways. In the process, he learned a valuable lesson: there were 7,000 others who were silently standing with him. When we stand alone for truth, others are emboldened to follow our example.
"Millions around the world revere the name Eric Liddell. He would have been a relatively obscure runner had it not been for his decision to stand alone. Representing Great Britain in the 1924 Olympic Games, he learned that the qualifying heats for his strongest event - the 100-meter race - would take place on Sunday. Because of his conviction to dedicate Sunday as a day of rest, set apart for the Lord, he declined to run, thereby disqualifying himself for the finals.
"He was questioned, misunderstood, and ridiculed for his decision to forfeit his participation in a race that he was likely to win. However, God is the One Who writes last chapters. Eric ran in the 400-meter race instead, a distance he rarely ran competitively, and not only won the gold medal but also set a new world record! In the end, his courage and success as a champion runner caused the world to stand up and cheer!
"We must run the race of life with discipline and dedication to the Lord, regardless of the sacrifices we must make along the way.
"Being willing to stand alone for what is right is vital for success in every area of life. It requires Scriptural convictions that we are willing to live for an, if necessary, die for. Are you committed - at all costs - to following the Lord on the narrow way? Are you prepared to stand alone when necessary?"
- Bill Gothard, Daily Success, Command 19: Choose the Narrow Way / Day 132, http://www.dailysuccess.org/
For The Ladies
in Your Life
