Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Strength and Compassion”
Our Bible verse for today: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “The kind of strength that matters is the kind that comes from God.”
Yesterday was Father’s Day. In churches all across the land sermons were preached about what it means to be a godly man. Much was probably said about character and integrity, faithfulness and dependability, grace under pressure, God-honoring homes, strong marriages, and much more. And certainly, in many of those sermons, there was probably some teaching about the virtues of strength and compassion.
All of those character traits are important and they’re commonly found in good godly men. But contrast that portrait with the man in the lyrics of an old song by rock singer Bonnie Tyler. In her hit “I Need a Hero” she sang,
“Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need.
I need a hero. I’m holding out for a hero
‘Til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight.
I need a hero …”
The man Bonnie Tyler sang about is the myth-man perpetrated by modern culture. He’s the GQ model in stylish clothes driving a fast sports car and vacationing in exotic locations.
Unfortunately he is also the man many women seek, and who many men pretend to be. But he is a myth. And usually women discover that too late. Usually it’s only after they have been hurt and abandoned, sometimes to raise the kids alone, that they begin to realize there is actually a different kind of man who makes a much better husband and a much better father. He’s the godly man. He’s the man who loves Jesus. He’s the man who reads His Bible, takes His family to church, and who genuinely strives to be a faithful follower of Christ.
Our churches are filled with women who have experienced life with both kinds of men. Ask them which they prefer. Ask them what matters more to them now, GQ stylish, or faithfulness, dependability, kindness, consideration, and compassion.
Go ahead, ask them. I think I know how they’ll respond. They found their hero – but not on the pages of GQ magazine. They found him in church.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 