Men, Could You?

“When I thought about my unborn child / When I thought about my wife / And the answer rang out clear from somewhere up above / No greater gift has man, then to lay down his life for Love” –For You by Keith Urban

For You is a beautiful song about sacrificial love. It is a sung from the perspective of a soldier who is contemplating whether he could lay down his life for his country and for his people. Not every man is called to fight that fight, but every man is called to fight another battle.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12

This fight needs warriors, men strong in the Lord. This fight needs men who stand up for truth. This fight needs men who work hard at God’s work. This fight needs men who die to themselves. This fight needs men who sacrifice their desires for other people. This fight needs men who protect and not oppress. This fight needs men who pray, “God, I do it all for you and for those I love.” This fight need men who act like Jesus.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1 John 3:16

When it comes down to it, could you take the bullet? Could you take up your cross and follow Him? That is true heroic masculinity. That is true love.