Category: Devotion for Men

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A Patient Parent

‘“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’ Exodus 20:12(NLT)

‘“Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’ Deuteronomy 5:16(NLT)

‘A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.’ Proverbs 13:1(NLT)

‘They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ‘ Romans 1:30(NLT)

‘So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ‘ Galatians 6:9(NLT)

‘Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:1-4(NLT)

‘Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. ‘ Colossians 3:20(NLT)

Any person who has children can tell you that parenting might very well be the hardest job in the world. If you are a Christian parent, the work does not get easier because you want to raise your children to honor God. The Scriptures tell the parents to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The Scriptures also tell the children to obey their parents, which does not always happen. Disobedience adds to parenting being difficult. With the tension between the encouragement of the Scriptures and the reality of life, how does one become a godly Christian parent? 

First, parenting is a lifelong endeavor. You are a parent for the rest of your life. You parent your children while they are under your roof. And you can still counsel them after they leave your house. Once you become a parent, you never stop being a parent. It is an ongoing effort, so you need patience, diligence, and endurance. You have to stay at it. You must do the right thing day in and day out. You must be kind to your children whether you had a good day at work or not. You must love them daily, continually and consistently. 

If you want to teach your children something, you must invest time into it. So if you want your children to play a musical instrument, you cannot just take them to lessons for several months and then let them quit. You need to invest years of encouragement, finances, and time into this activity. The same goes for sports. Of course, this is also true about spiritual disciplines. In other words, if you want your children to love the Lord, you need to pray together frequently. You need to study the Bible together regularly. You should go to and serve in a church together. Parenting is a long-term commitment. 

The Bible promises us that we reap what we sow as long as we do not quit. This is especially true with parenting. We cannot expect immediate results with our children. We cannot raise microwave Christians. Raising godly children takes time and patience. Actually, it takes a long time and a lot of patience. The fruit, however, is most rewarding. 

from How To Be A Good Christian Parent

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage Devotion for Men Devotion for Women Step Father-mother ZZ

An Honorable Parent

‘Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”’ Genesis 1:28(NLT)

‘“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’ Exodus 20:12(NLT)

‘My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.’ Proverbs 1:8-9(NLT)

‘Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.’ Proverbs 13:24(NLT)

‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ Proverbs 22:6(NLT)

‘To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.’ Proverbs 29:15(NLT)

‘Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4(NLT)

‘No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.’ Hebrews 12:11(NLT)

No matter what challenges we face in raising our children, we must remember that it is our responsibility from the Lord. He will give us the strength to do it. However, He also expects us to do it well. Interestingly, there are few instructions given to children in Scripture. They should believe the Gospel, which is true for everyone, and they should obey their parents. Most other Scriptural instructions address parents. 

Since parents are the primary authority at home, they are the leaders. God expects more from them than He does from children. Young people are taught to be learners throughout the book of Proverbs, but parents are to take the lead in living a godly lifestyle and teaching their children to do the same. In our culture children are sometimes given too much freedom or too much responsibility. Some parents say that they let their children decide whether or not they want to go to church. That is wrong. As a parent, you are in control of your child’s life and their Christian upbringing. You have to get them to do the right thing. 

You are in your children’s lives for a reason: to guide, instruct, and mold them into the godly people they are to become. The Bible sees parents as the influencers in their children’s lives. You must teach your children to honor the Lord. You also need to teach them to honor you. This will help them to know how to honor authority. Of course, you must also behave honorably. You cannot yell at your spouse, lie to others, or cheat in your business and expect your children to honor the godliness in you. You must be godly.

Model honor for your children; they will follow your lead. The Scriptures tell us that children might not like discipline at the time it is given, but later it will produce a fruit of righteousness and peace in their lives. Your children might not be as enthusiastic about going to church on Sunday or reading the Bible at home as you would like them to be. But if you stay firm and consistent, these godly disciplines will become part of their lives. They will thank you when they grow up.

from How To Be A Good Christian Parent

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A Failing Parent

‘The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.’ Proverbs 24:16(NLT)

‘“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ‘ John 15:5(NLT)

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”’ Acts of the Apostles 1:8(NLT)

‘For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ‘ Romans 3:23(NLT)

‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.’ Ephesians 4:32(NLT)

‘Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.’ James 3:2(NLT)

‘If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ‘ 1 John 1:8-9(NLT)

‘For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.’ Hebrews 10:14(NLT)

As much as we try to raise our children well and examine our hearts before God while doing it, we don’t always get it right. Sometimes, in our parenting, we are tempted to use the old adage: do as I say, not as I do. The truth is that we do live in this world and we make mistakes. As much as we try not to be hypocritical, we are also not perfect. What do we do when we sin, or when we err? Is there room for failure in godly parenting?

The answer, surprisingly, is “Yes!” The Gospel is the main thing that we need to teach our children. In other words, we need to teach them that people have a sinful nature. We need to teach them about Christ’s sacrificial redemption. We have to tell them about forgiveness. We should show them what it means to be progressively sanctified. The Bible tells us that we all stumble in many ways. None of us is without sin. Family is the place where forgiveness is constantly needed and confession of sin is constantly practiced. 

To fail is not to be a hypocrite. That is not what hypocrisy means. Hypocrisy is wearing a mask. It is being a play actor. It is playing a role that is not you. Children can absorb a lot of failure on the part of their parents when they know that their parents are genuine in their love for God and genuine in their love for them. That’s where we need to really test ourselves. It is about our hearts. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I repeating things just to sound right? Do I really believe the things that I am saying?” 

Just like everything in our Christian walk, parenting is about faith. We must ask ourselves if we really believe the Word of God and if we are striving to teach our children to believe it too. Christ said that we can do nothing without Him. That includes parenting. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to parent right. We need God’s help in this important life endeavor. He is always there to answer our prayers and to give us the strength necessary to be a godly parent.  

from How To Be A Good Christian Parent

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage Devotion for Men Devotion for Women Step Father-mother ZZ

An Honest Parent

‘Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.’ Matthew 23:1-4(NLT)

‘Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’ Mark 7:6(NLT)

‘Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ‘ Ephesians 6:1(NLT)

‘Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.’ Colossians 3:21(NLT)

‘For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ‘ 1 John 2:16(NLT)

‘Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you ; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. ‘ 2 Corinthians 13:5(NLT)

Children are great character readers, so parents cannot be hypocrites. You cannot tell your child to do something, while you do something else. You can’t teach your children anything you are not willing to live. So if you want your children to grow up loving and honoring the Lord, you must make sure that you are doing it yourself. To train your children well, you must examine your own devotion to God. You need to be honest with yourself and examine yourself daily. 

For example, you want your children to study the Bible, ask yourself, “Do I study the Bible consistently?” You want your children to pray. Ask yourself, “Do I pray daily?” You should be teaching your children to love the church. Do you model what that means? If you want to teach your children to honor God with their money, you need to give faithfully to God’s Kingdom. Ask yourself, “Am I generous? Do I honor God with my resources?”If you want to teach your children about sexual purity, examine your life. Are you watching your heart and your mind? Are you being a good example of everything you teach? 

The Bible warns us that this world is full of evil. There is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life that operates here. Before you can teach your children to keep themselves pure and serve the Lord, you need to do the same. Be aware of temptations in your own life because you are your children’s primary teacher. The first spiritual teacher of our children is not the church. A local church equips parents who then are primary teachers to their children. You teach by what you say, but also by how you live. In fact, your life, your actions, speak louder than your words. For you to be a good teacher to your children, you need to be a godly role model to them. 

When you are consistent in what you do, what you say will matter to your children. They will treasure your words through the years. If you are inconsistent and are a hypocrite, you will eventually frustrate your children and they will become bitter. You must live out the godliness you want to model. 

from How To Be A Good Christian Parent

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Devotion for Men ZZ

The Bait and Switch?

‘When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. ‘ 1 Corinthians 13:11(NLT)

‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ‘ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(NLT)

‘For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ‘ Ephesians 5:25-28(NLT)

Everyone who gets married gets surprised. There are things you find out after the wedding that you didn’t know beforehand. It’s not intentional . . . it’s nobody’s fault. It just happens. 

Infatuation is partly to blame. The idea of the person gets so jacked up by emotion and hormones that you can’t see the actual person objectively. 

Here’s the thing: love isn’t a hole you fall into . . . it’s a choice you make. Mature love is fueled by commitment, tenacity, and determination more than passion, romance, and flowers. It doesn’t feel good a lot of the time. But it is good . . . and good for us.

Marriage isn’t about falling in love once and staying in love with that same woman all your life. It’s choosing to love her as she is in each stage of life, adapting your love to the woman she has become and is becoming. 

A husband’s love must mature as he and his wife mature. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:11 . . .

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

I could paraphrase that to say, “When I was a newlywed, I talked like a newlywed, I thought like a newlywed, I reasoned like a newlywed. When I matured, I put the ways of a newlywed behind me.” 

Translated: I grew up, accepted her exactly as she is, and started to love her with a rock-solid, committed, selfless kind of love that never gives up or goes away—the same kind of love Jesus has for us. 

Question: Have you matured in your love for your wife? 

Did this plan challenge you as a husband?

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell

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Devotion for Men ZZ

The Marriage Cage

‘But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”’ Mark 10:6-9(NLT)

‘You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail.’ Proverbs 19:21(NLT)

‘Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12(NLT)

Marriage is easy when you’re feeling the love. When you aren’t, marriage feels like a cage. But think about this: what if the cage is there to protect you?

If you were alone and it was dark and you were deep in the jungles of Africa with lions, tigers, leopards, jackals . . . all kinds of hungry animals looking for fresh meat . . . you’d give anything for a cage. You’d gladly lock yourself inside.

Maybe that’s why God created the institution of marriage. Maybe it’s there to protect us from the dangers and the temptations we’re drawn to . . . things that might kill us if we were set free.

Why should we value or protect institutions? Because institutions are ways to sustain important activities over time.

Let’s say there’s a good-hearted doctor who takes care of everyone in his community. What happens when the doctor dies?

We created an institution to sustain the healthcare we all need. The good-hearted doctor is still at the heart of it, but now he’s connected to an institution, the hospital, which is a system that will carry on.

Marriage is sort of like that. It’s a system that carries two people through when they don’t feel love for each other. Consider this . . . 

Love initiates marriage. But marriage sustains love.

Remember that God created marriage, and He put you in yours for your benefit. Probably for your protection, as well. Marriage will only be sustained if people think long-term, stay committed even when they don’t feel like it, and trust God for the love and protection He provides through marriage.

Question: Are you actively working to protect your marriage?

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell

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Devotion for Men ZZ

Submission to Oneness

‘And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’ Ephesians 5:21(NLT)

‘Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ‘ Ephesians 4:2-3(NLT)

‘Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ‘ Colossians 3:13-14(NLT)

Submit may be the most controversial word in the Bible, especially when it’s used by a man talking about a woman. Submission doesn’t come naturally. Start telling your wife how she’s supposed to submit to you and you’ll find yourself celibate—and not because you meant to be.

What God has for us in marriage isn’t found in making anyone do anything. It’s not about the requirement that the husband do “X” so the wife will do “Y” or vice versa. The jewel we’re digging for is oneness. Voluntary, not obligatory. Filling, not draining.

As a husband, I feel oneness when I know I measure up. When she lets me know I have what it takes and when she listens to me.

She feels oneness when she feels cherished. When she feels loved, lovely, and lovable. Accepted and not criticized. When she feels my focused attention.

So . . . instead of battling over who goes first . . . whether love brings submission or vice versa, why not make it mutual?

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Instead of doing things for the sake of our marriage, what would happen if we created an imaginary third party called oneness? What if we started thinking, for the sake of oneness, I’m going to pass up the temptation to snap back to what she just said. For the sake of oneness, I’m going to let him off for forgetting that thing I asked him to do. For the sake of oneness . . .

Recognize it’s oneness you both want. Oneness “out of reverence for Christ,” Who put the two of you together in the first place.

Question: “Out of reverence for Christ,” will you do what it takes to pursue oneness with your wife?

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell

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Devotion for Men ZZ

What’s Down in the Well Comes Up in the Bucket

‘And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.’ Ephesians 4:26-27(NLT)

‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. ‘ James 1:19-20(NLT)

‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ Proverbs 4:23(NLT)

One of my young executives taught me a principle years ago that I’ve never forgotten. It was cathartic for me as a leader . . . and as a husband.

He said, “When something one of your employees does bothers you, confront them with it before that day ends. No matter how petty . . . how trivial . . . how embarrassing, confront it. Don’t go home; don’t let them go home, without talking it out.” 

For years, I harbored grudges against my wife. “She’s not this,” “She doesn’t do that.” I let all those little things build up until they were destroying our marriage. What would have happened if I had dealt with all that stuff along the way? What if I had sought counsel about my feelings and judgments? What if I’d talked those things out with her immediately when I started to feel them?

The reality is that it took her leaving for a while to wake me up to the junk I had hidden down in my “well.” Like a splinter buried deep in the sole of your foot, it has to come out or it’s going to lead to real problems.

God created us for relationships. He taught us to keep short accounts—“before dark” short. When we man up and deal with what’s lodged in our hearts, we’ll be healthier, lighter, and more lovable. 

Question: Will you make a commitment to yourself that you won’t hold grudges against your wife? That you’ll bring stuff up instead of letting it simmer? Tell her about it if you need to. Maybe even ask her if she will consider doing it too.

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell

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Devotion for Men ZZ

Love Stays

‘The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”’ Mark 12:31(NLT)

‘That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.’ Colossians 1:29(NLT)

‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ‘ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(NLT)

What makes a man godly? How does he demonstrate his love for God? By fulfilling the second commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). Who are your closest neighbors? Your wife and your kids.

What’s the first thing a husband and father does to demonstrate love for them?

He stays.

Godly men don’t run off. They don’t run away. Author John Lynch defines love as “meeting needs.” Your wife’s number one need is security. That starts with you being committed. Staying. Regardless, you work it out.

Too many men are moving away instead of staying. We pursue selfish acts and ambitions that move us away from the good things God intends for us.

Love stays. Elder-type men stick with their Lord, the wife of their youth, their kids, their families, and the church. No matter what. 

I’ll never forget one of the men I mentored telling about how his dad would get up early to read his Bible and pray. He’d get down and kneel on the couch, and when the son got up later in the morning, he’d see the imprint of his dad’s face in the couch. He knew his dad had been there before dawn, praying for him . . . he could see his face print. 

Another mentee had quite a different experience. His memory is his dad announcing he didn’t love his mom anymore and that he was moving out. He moved in with his girlfriend and deserted his family. Every single day, this thirty-something year old man deals with the damage his dad did to him when he decided not to stay.

If you’re thinking about leaving, don’t. Stay. If you’re there in body but not in spirit, stay . . . turn your heart to your family and get yourself together where it matters most. People are watching. Your kids are watching. Your grandchildren are (or will be) watching. People inside and outside the faith are watching.

Question: Will you decide, I mean really decide, to stay? And then will you tell (or remind) your wife that you’re not going anywhere . . . not now, not ever?

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell

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Devotion for Men ZZ

A Wife with No Voice

‘In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
All Christians
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. ‘ 1 Peter 3:7-8(NLT)

‘Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.’ Proverbs 18:13(NLT)

One of the most helpless feelings in the world is hearing your wife say, “I feel like I have no voice!” Especially after you’ve just explained a situation or decision to her for the third time and you’re sure you’ve listened to her input. I can’t tell you how deeply it hurts to make the effort to give her the extra detail she always wants and then to have it thrown back in your face and be criticized.

A few months ago, a friend made this statement to me. I feel like I should carve it on a stone tablet . . .

A wife who feels she “has no voice” is one whose husband has talked about the issue but failed to connect with her feelings.

A while back, a friend and his wife were at each other’s throats over the new car they needed. His wife explained why she wanted a minivan . . . why it fit her needs and her personality at this stage of life (two small kids . . . lots of activities . . . “Mom’s taxi”). My friend found a deal on a huge, safe SUV and bought it without any real conversation with his wife. She couldn’t get past it.

When he learned this principle, he went to her and let her unpack her feelings about both the car choice and about the lack of connection to her feelings. He “fell on his sword,” and now they’re on the same page again.

It’s a powerful principle. Connect with her feelings first, then talk about the facts. You’ll get a different reception.

Question: Do you regularly connect with your wife’s feelings? Is there anything you need to bring up and let her unpack . . . while you just listen?

from Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Husbands by Regi Campbell