Be A Man

Our culture is screaming for authenticity, and yet our hearts are twisted up trying to seek an identity we weren't made for. Women need to act like women. Men need to act like men. That's when you'll find authentic hearts.

"Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13 Amplified Bible (AMP) What does a man look like? A real man. As I've learned about authentic femininity I've come to a place where I needed to understand authentic masculinity in order to progress. This came up, a verse written by Paul. It's so simple, yet so profound. Paul is using specific, war terms here. He's speaking into a war zone situation that we find ourselves in as Christians. It's a full on war over your whole life, and he makes sure to get to the point. He's letting you know, as men, that this is what you do in life. Stand in your faith knowing, without a doubt that God will get you through anything. Have courage to not run from what scares you because God is with you. Be a man. And be strong. Strong because you know where your strength comes from, you know you can endure, persevere, and have the victory in all things because you have God. This world often tells men to be more feminine; more gentle, empathetic, in his feelings, etc. But an authentic man is not feminine. He may have tenancies, but at his core he is wild, dangerous, strong, courageous. He is made for war. To be a warrior. A fighter. A beast.

But an authentic man is not feminine. He may have tenancies, but at his core he is wild, dangerous, strong, courageous. He is made for war. To be a warrior. A fighter. A beast.

I'm not saying a man can't express more feminine attributes. But that's generally found in the comfort of an authentic woman. The intimate moments he shares with her when he doesn't have to fight. When he can find rest in her nurturing, comforting nature. Telling him to be feminine emasculates him and tames him into something he was never meant to be. It leaves a defecate in his spirit, a longing to break free. And we wonder why so many men run from the women in this world.

It's a shame we try so hard to calm the wild hearts of men. It's a shame we as women don't embrace our own femininity. Our culture is screaming for authenticity, and yet our hearts are twisted up trying to seek an identity we weren't made for. Women need to act like women. Men need to act like men. That's when you'll find authentic hearts. That's when you'll see what you've been searching for in a partner. That's when you'll find yourself truly coming alive. Paul says it simply here. Stand in faith, be a man, have courage, be strong. If we look at the lives of the men in the bible, we find they're all of these things. Different people displaying a characteristic of a masculine heart. Just as the women of the bible give us a wide view picture of an authentic feminine heart. When did we get so far away from what we were made to be? It's time to get our faces in the word and really look at the examples given to us. It's easy to say be a man, be a woman. But in order to understand that, we must seek God, first and foremost. God is both masculine and feminine, the perfect blend. Men and women were made to reflect his different sides, so He is our greatest example. But, in His wisdom, He also gave us some amazing role models in our bibles. David was courageous. Paul was wise. Solomon was fierce. Mary was nurturing. Martha was dutiful. The more you study the lives of these men and women, the more you'll be able to understand what being authentic is. Your relationships will get healthier. You'll have more peace in your spirit! And the closer you'll be to God himself.

#relationships #men #women #authenticity #1Corinthians #feminine #masculine