Daily Wisdom 06-20-2002 Strength Without Control

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Strength Without Control

Our family has been blessed with grandson number two - and, is it possible, I think he may be as cute as his older brother Jordan! BabyBlake has dark hair - in fact, so much that I'm jealous he's got big blue eyes, chubby cheeks. He's only two months old so, frankly,he doesn't do much yet - but he's still fascinating to watch. For one thing, his neck muscles are really strong. No matter where you puthim - on your shoulder, in your arms, sitting up in your lap - little Blake is able to raise up his head and try to flop it around so he can seewhat he wants to see. Unfortunately, as strong as he is, he doesn't have much control over where his head goes.

Now, our little guy has lots of strength, but not much control. Unfortunately, there are a lot of big guys with the same problem. And itdoesn't look nearly as cute on them.

Which is why God helps us understand one of the central issues of real manhood in our word for today from the Word of God.Proverbs 16:32 is a revealing mirror for every man to look into. God says, "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man whocontrols his temper than one who takes a city." That's a powerful comparison because guys are raised to believe that manhood isconquest - conquering in sports, conquering in business, conquering in relationships, conquering women.

But God says it's easier for a man to conquer a city than it is for him to conquer his own passions. So a man proves he's a real man, notby conquering an opponent or a woman or a goal - but by conquering himself. And so many of our half of the human race are like mylittle grandson - we're strong we can get things done, move things around, get our way, make things happen - but we may havestrength without control.

In Titus 2, when Paul is giving instructions for how Christian men are supposed to live out their faith, he says, "Teach the older men tobe self-controlled" (Titus 2:2). And then he says, "Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled" (Titus 2:6).Old or young, what God is looking for in a man is that all too rare quality of self-control.

It may be that you're a strong man in many ways - maybe physically, intellectually, persuasively, and financially. You've got a strongpersonality, a strong resume', a strong reputation. But it could also be that your strength is not under control - your temper yoursexual desires your mouth. You're strong, but you're hurting people you love you're running over people, crushing people, runningpast people on your way to your goals. Too often, your words are rash and wounding, your temper is explosive, and your passions are out ofcontrol.

That's when a man realizes he needs someone outside himself to give him the power to control his dark side. And that's when many menturn to the One the Bible calls the Savior - Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross to take the punishment for all our sinning and to break thepower of this dark force called sin. He is very much a man's Savior. But maybe He's not yet your Savior. That could change...this veryday. Tell Jesus - the Son of God who became a man - that you're done driving that He's going to drive from now on. Find out moreabout how a relationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure,check out YOURS FOR LIFE!

Surrender usually means you lose. Except when you surrender to Jesus Christ. When a man surrenders to Him, he can finally win thebattle over the animal inside him.

Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular radio broadcast,"A Word With You"."A WORD WITH YOU" daily devotionals are now available via e-mail. To subscribe send a blank email to:awordwithyou-subscribe@hutchcraft.com,or to request the "Yours for Life" booklet, fill out the form on this site:http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/yours/yflorder.html. Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providingpractical answers to real life issues. (c) 2000 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.PO Box 400, Harrison AR 72602