"For Men Only (OK, The Women Can Peek)", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

I think most preacher's stay far away from the passage I will share today.

I don't usually write a devotional on Saturday, but I really felt God speak to me on this today.

Men, the condition of the Church, the Body of Christ, is out of sorts and out of wack.

And it's YOUR fault.

That's right...IT'S YOUR FAULT!!! I didn't stutter.

It's your fault IF you are not living according to the handed down Holy Word of God.

If you are in harmony with Christ and your home and family today, then I applaud you.

If not, then I must warn you. You are in grave error and in default of God's plan for you, your family, and the Church.

That's a heavy weight of conviction to bear my friend. I STRONGLY advise you to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! It does not come without penalty.

I mentioned the women could "peek". That's because the men who probably need to read this won't. They are generally consumed with themselves, their extracurricular activities, or even their jobs. Or they are being pushed out of their intended role by overbearing wives, girlfriends, and even mothers.

Heed the Word of God a moment (you too women):

Ephesians 5:22-33 (Amplified Bible) - (22) Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord. (23) For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body. (24) As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. (25) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (26) So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, (27) That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. (28) Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. (29) For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, (30) Because we are members (parts) of His body. (31) For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. (32) This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church. (33) However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly].

It might seem harsh that I lay the blame at the feet of the man. Well, that's because that is where Christ has laid the bulk of the responsibility. The man is to be to his family the head as Christ is the Head over the Church.

The women (who get it dumped on them) have been taking up that slack for a long time, and thank God for it, but it's still NOT the ordained will of God! It might work, but it's not working as it should.

While some men are guilty of not manning up, some women are guilty of not letting them! In that case it is still the man's fault for getting it backwards and being subservient to the will of the women!

God has called you to be sanctified NOT sissified!

If you read the passage carefully, no one is supposed to be lording anything over anyone. In the marriage each is subject to each other in love.

There are no "bosses" in a marriage, but there is "headship". And that headship belongs to Christ working through the man/husband. This way, and only this way, is the way the man or husband is the "head" of his family.

He is the Christ appointed head as Jesus Himself is the Head of His Church, and the way Jesus serves His Church is through LOVE, and that is how man should serve his family. LOVE.

I almost said "sorry". I'm not sorry. It needed to be said. I see too many fractured families where the man has either neglected his role completely, turned it over to his wife, or had his wife take it from him.

When that happens everything, and I mean everything, falls apart from the intended purpose of God.

From the home, to the Church, to the Kingdom Glory, this is the WAY that God has ordained it! You can shoot this messenger if you'd like, but you know deep down I'm right and that a good long conversation with God is long overdue!

Hey, I'm just...

...Keepin' it Real!

Pastor Kevin <><