THE ACTION MAN
Proverbs 28:1b NIV
The righteous are bold as lions!
Daniel 11:32b NASB
Those who know their God will be strong and take action {do exploits}!
I sat at my computer absolutely stunned as I read these words, “Men with body armor, and guns waited outside the classroom door for over an hour waiting for someone to bring keys, as the shooter remained inside the Uvalde classroom, only to discover the door wasn’t locked after all!”
What?! WHAT?! Are you kidding me? Just sickening. I mean the cowardice, the shame, the pathetic incompetence of these men. You are telling me that there was no man among them brave enough, with enough daring, who took action to even try the door knob?!! That is exactly what happened. This shooter could have been put down and many children’s lives saved, but for the cowardly inaction of men. Men who didn’t want to break the chain of incompetent command, who didn’t want to go against the protocols and process of other incompetent fools.
To put this in another light, imagine a fire breaks out at a school, and flames are shooting out the windows, while the firetrucks and firemen stand idly by watching for an hour pondering exactly what to do.
Men, I pray today that you will hear me, and really listen. Many of the men I have known over the years of my life were similar to the men outside the Uvalde classroom. They were un-daring, indecisive, timid, go with the flow, kind of men. They were an inaction man, not an action man!
Our families, our churches and our world need men of action. They need us to be bold and daring, to be decisive, men who act, and act now!!
I was sitting on the plane in Tegucigalpa, Honduras waiting to take off for home. This airport is very unique in that it is situated right by a mountain range. When taking off, the pilot must very quickly begin a steep ascent, or you crash into the mountains. It is actually listed as one of the most dangerous in the world. I am not joking, look it up. This was my first time there. As we began to turn for the runway leading to take off, all of a sudden many passengers began to pray out loud, making the sign of the cross. I’ve never seen anything like it. The older lady next to me, seated across the aisle, was shaking and moaning, she was so frightened. Suddenly the plane shot down the runway and began what felt like an almost 45% angle ascent. It was unlike any I have ever experienced. I looked beside me and the older lady was unconscious with spittle drooling from her mouth. Her daughter next to her was crying. I immediately unbuckled my seat belt, against all regulations, stood up as we were taking off, and grabbed the seats walking up the steep angle to the flight attendant who was seated, buckled in, yelling at me to sit down. I refused and continued walking toward her. Why? Because I knew that if this lady had had a heart attack she needed help asap! Like right now!! Not after we were at a comfortable altitude and given permission to get up from our seats. She might be dead by then.
When I told the attendant what was going on, she immediately got up and went to help this lady. Fortunately, it all worked out, and this older lady recovered. The attendant thanked me for my quick actions and the daughter and her mother were overwhelmed with gratitude that I did what I did.
Men, we must be bold and daring. We must be men of action. We must develop this habit, this characteristic about everything in our lives.
What you are in private you will always end up being like in public.
I was standing behind the parts counter of the car dealership where I worked. One of my coworkers was an older man named Paul. He was probably close to 70. A wonderful man, with lots of parts experience, but a few health problems, and he was not as fast as he once was. One particular day, the young imposing, abrasive service manager didn’t like the fact that Paul couldn’t find the part he needed and began to publicly excoriate this older man. I could see the tears welling up in his eyes and the deep hurt and shame on his face. I jumped into the middle of it and told this service manager to back off now, that Paul had done the best he could to find the part, but it just wasn’t available right now. The service manager glared at me, in stunned amazement that someone would stand up to him. This man regularly made other people’s lives miserable, including mine. I was not going to stand by and watch this pathetic man, beat down on and humiliate this older man I worked with. I took action, I stood up for this older, weaker, and defenseless man.
Men, there is no other way to say this. This is what men who know God do. This is what real men of faith act like.
We must recapture our boldness and courage. We must not be what the world tells us to be like. Docile, passive, idle, always waiting around for someone else to do what needs to be done, afraid of what others may think of us.
Our wives and our children need us to be men who know God and take action!
What are areas of your life right now that you know God wants you to take some kind of action but you haven’t?
Identify them, and today, start taking some action.
A couple of very simple examples:
Recently, I read a study that French press coffee is not healthy for you. They gave the specific scientifically researched reasons why. They stated that overall coffee in moderation is very good for you as long as you filter it. I have been drinking French press coffee every morning for some time, as has my wife. You know what I did? I took action. I immediately went to Wal-Mart and for $20 bought a pour-over coffee maker, along with a box of brown paper filters, as the white ones contain bleach, and from that day on we’ve used the pour-over coffee maker.
Not too long ago, I read that the best workout for my heart, and for losing fat, is the Hiit workout. It simply means that for 1:30 seconds you go at your normal pace, then for 30 seconds you go as fast as you can, then normal for 1:30 minutes, etc. Even though I have been doing 12 minutes each morning on my elliptical for my heart rate, I realized research showed this would be better for me. What did I do? I took immediate action that very morning, and I have been doing it for 11 minutes each morning ever since.
Men, do you see what I am getting at? Practice taking immediate action in everything. One of the very first articles I wrote to all of you was called, Pray Together, Stay Together! Here is a question for you. Of those of you who read that article, how many of you took action and have been praying with your wife daily since you read that article?
It is one of the most powerful ways to divorce-proof your marriage, and unite you and your wife.
You see, we will never be more in public than we are in private.
Determine today my Christian brothers to be an action man!
2 Timothy 1:7 NASB
For God has not given us the spirit of timidity, {cowardice} but of power and love and discipline.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
