The Emergence of Man (Manhood) by Gladson MusondaSample

AGITATION - ag-i-tate /ˈajəˌtāt/
“The action of briskly stirring or disturbing something.”

It’s here that passion is birthed or killed. It’s here that the stripping away takes place. You are alone “naked” in the dark.

Going back to our analogy, the Farmer knows that the seed he has put in the ground needs to go through the process of being agitated by the environment it has been placed in. The potential that is embedded in that seed needs the dirt for it to come out. Remember that it’s the seasons that determine the environment and the environment agitates us so that the potential or the call of the man is awakened. A point to note here is that the Farmer seldom comes to the rescue of the seed because if he disturbs that process, the seed is likely to die. Sometimes we pray for God to rescue us from our environment when it’s that environment that’s necessary for our potential to be realized and should God step in, we would not emerge to be what He has created us to be.

It is the assignment of the soil to agitate whatever is placed in its domain. That’s the natural order of things - its natural law. Human laws (rules) on the other hand, have superficial demands on us and we tend to gravitate towards these superficial demands more easily. When natural law places a demand on us, we find ourselves in a quandary. Natural law will always win no matter what. Gravity is a natural law. Any rebellion against that law or a tempering with it has major consequences.

In like manner, the masculine journey has already been put in motion by God and the natural order of things is that the environment that we are placed in is designed to agitate that God-given purpose in you and me. We can choose to settle for the superficial demands of things like wealth, women, and work. These things are NOT the definition of masculinity. When the natural demand of who we are called to be comes face to face with the superficial demands, we shut down because we do not know how to respond. The proper response is to YIELD to the natural law. The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus demands that we become the men God has called us to be. (Romans 8:1-11)

A good example of agitation can be found in Genesis 38, 39-45. Joseph chose to allow the environment to bring the best out of him. He also encountered superficial moments that could have been moments of pleasure but were graveyards to his God-given assignments. I encourage you to read that story with a renewed perspective.

CALL TO ACTION:

Looking at the environment that you are in right now.

1. Have you allowed the superficial demands of this world to cloud your judgement of what the environment actually demands of you – the maximizing of your potential?
2. What steps can you take to align yourself to the natural demands of the environment you are in?

Again, this is not a place of guilt or condemnation rather it’s a call to RENEWAL.

PRAYER:

Father, I humble myself before you today. I realize that so many times I have reacted to the superficial demands placed on me that I have neglected the purpose of the environment that the different seasons of life have brought me in. I have succumbed to the temptation of wanting the easy way out. I ask that you forgive me. I am in your hands and I will to become what you are calling me to become. You have my yes in this season. In Jesus' Name, Amen.