What Is a Man?Sample

Created to Reign

If we truly understood who God created us to be, not only would we be endlessly worshipful and thankful, but we would be filled with such confidence in life that nothing could stop us!

When God created Adam and partnered him with Eve, He gave them no small task:

Rule over the world.

Dominion over the planet was given to man, not for selfishness but for stewardship and care.

And although the blessing was given to both genders, not just men, there does seem to be something that particularly stirs in the hearts of men about this idea.

God created you to reign with Him. That was what Eden was all about, and that’s what we will be doing for all eternity as well (2 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 5:10).

You are a son of the King. In this season on earth, the King is training you to reign with Him in His Kingdom. Such training involves practice (how well are you leading whatever He’s given you so far?), adversity (tough times challenge us and make us stronger), wisdom (learning right from wrong, often through trial and error), and strength (using what God has given us to show off His glory).

“Rulership” in the Kingdom does not look like rulership in the world, of course (Matthew 20:25-28). Whether you are leading at church, work, school, home, or whatever the case may be, men who follow Christ lead the way Christ told us to lead: by washing feet (John 13:1-20).

Godly men lead with humility, self-sacrifice, and other-centeredness. It is never about imposing our will on another; it is about laying our lives down for another, putting their needs above our own and serving them, not ourselves.

When Jesus, the perfect Man, walked among us, sacrifice was the pathway to His reigning (Philippians 2:3-11). He did not begin from a place of rulership; He came in the most humble way possible, and earned the fullness of His rulership after living a life of obedience and sacrifice for others that culminated at the Cross.

Godly men follow His example. We do not seek glory, but we seek the low places, serving others sacrificially, and in so doing, we faithfully execute our leadership in the way of Christ, preparing us for the eternal reign that is coming.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your call on my life. Empower me by Your Spirit to be faithful, humble, and dedicated to living it out. Amen.

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you have leadership? How is your leadership going? In what ways might you improve your leadership to be more Christlike?