Strong Men

The impressive abilities of strong men... Some are strong to run while others are strong to stand. There are strong men for building and strong men for tearing down. How many times the jar of strawberry preserves was handed to the stronger member of the family to open, or the call to four guys for moving furniture from one location to another... There's always a season for men of strength. Every man wants to be numbered among the strong. Every boy wants to be recognized as strong by other men (especially by his dad).
But the need for men of emotional and spiritual strength is even greater. With that in mind, I was shaken to the core this morning by something I read in my devotional time. Proverbs 7 declares a stern warning to men of all ages and walks of life. It's the warning against the adulteress. Though I've read this chapter dozens of times, the words in verses 24-27 grabbed my heart like the grip of a strong man's hand around my wrist. I've come to realize that the grip was the strong hand of the Holy Spirit. It says, "Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth: do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death." The Scripture says that all of them who were slain by the wayward woman were "strong men." Here's the point: Strength can be deceiving. It can make us believe that we've got everything under control. So, what's the answer to all of us who claim to be strong? First, we must never claim to be strong enough. Secondly, we strengthen ourselves daily in the One who is always strong, Jesus Christ. We do that by spending time reading the Gospels and the letters of the New Testament and thinking on its truths along with surrendering ourselves in prayer to Father God. We don't have to be caught off guard, blindsided by penetrating arrows in the weak places of our lives. Here's the encouragement from Scripture: "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). Real men of strength are strong in the Lord Jesus Christ!