There have been a few times when I have been so angry, that I felt like slugging someone...

Let me set this up for you.  The church that I attended would put on a terrific Easter Musical every year.  It was a great production and much of the community would go.  It was quite popular.   I enjoyed being part of it.

I was at a fast food establishment and I overheard a conversation that I wish I had never heard.  Two young men were talking about the Easter Musical.  Since I was in the production, I listened intentionally.  Then they started talking to each other about how to pick up girls.  I heard the usual stupid man advice about showing off, flexing your muscles, driving a fast car, flattering, flirting, etc.  

However, what I heard next was REALLY DISGUSTING.   

I wish I hadn't been listening.

One young man said, "I take girls to that Easter Musical that's going on right now.   I cry when Jesus is on the cross and they get all emotional.  Then, when I get them home, they are  like putty in my hands.  I can do anything I want and they never say no."  He continued, "If I can't get a girl to go with me, I will hang out afterwards and talk to the girls that have been crying.  It's pretty easy to pick one up when they're like that."  It made my blood boil.  I wanted to slug the guy or say something but I was so angry and in such shock, I just sat there in disbelief.

Did you catch what was DISGUSTING about that conversation?  God talks about this.  He says, "They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied.  They lure unstable people into sin..."  

Why is this disgusting?

Did you catch what this young man said?  He took the most wonderful and supreme act of love and perverted it for his own selfish, sinful advantage.  And not only that, he took others with him.  

Do you find that disgusting?

I have talked about several disgusting things on this blog.  What makes this the most disgusting thing I have ever heard?  

Do you understand the gravity of this young man's statements?

It is downright disgusting to use something that is holy for sin.  To defile God's holiness with sin is a major affront to God.  This conversation gave me a whole different perspective on God's Holiness and what it means to be a man.  

A real man takes God's Holiness seriously.  That doesn't mean that a real man can't have fun and can't make light of some things that happen, even in a church.  But a real man knows better than to defile God with sin.   God and sin can NEVER be connected, even the slightest connection is abhorrent to God.

Do you defile God's Holiness?  Do you take Him seriously?  

God says we are to be holy in all we do.  Never connect God to sin.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Has porn taken you down a path you can't talk about?  What about lust, envy, pride?  Do you find yourself wallowing in the mud?  

You WERE a prodigal eating old cobs of leftovers in the pigsty.  To restore your relationship with your Father, you had to get out of the mud and start walking home.  You didn't have to clean yourself up first, but you did have to make that first step.  On the road ahead, the Father would be waiting with a ring, a robe, shoes, and everything else an honored son is meant to have.  But, FIRST, you had to come to your senses and take your first step  toward home --toward purity--toward holiness--to being a REAL man--by making that covenant with your eyes.  "I made a covenant with myself to never undress a girl with my eyes"  Job 31:1

Before long you may have felt a new light and lightness in your soul.  Your sexual sin had brought a darkness so deep and smothering that when it vanished, the difference was so real you could practically touch it.  You are loved and approved by God.

Along with inner peace comes an outer peace that affects your daily life.  Now is the time, say a quick prayer asking for God's strength to leave your sin and your pigheadedness.  

BE HOLY
BE A MAN

adapted from Every Man's Battle