How to Be a Man

A very good article from crosswalk.com:
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Society tells us to “Be the man” and “You’re the man,” but it fails to give men an accurate picture of what that is. Even in the Bible, Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” . . . ”Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (2 Samuel 12:7, 9).

Today’s churches seem to have varying opinions of what a man should be as well. Some churches have adopted a passive, quiet, “turn the other cheek” sort of man, while other ministries, like the newly developed men’s conference, GodMen, have another take.

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Paul's Letter of Recommendation

As a school teacher, I have seen ex-students coming back to request for letters of recommendation or testimonials from me or their ex-teachers. Competition is tight and more students have been getting really good results, hoping to get into good schools for tertiary education. To supplement their 'O' levels and outstanding CCA records, these ex-students also hoped to obtain letters of recommendation so that they will stand out from the other applicants.

The Apostle Paul also mentioned about letters of recommendation in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3. It is unthinkable in our society to present yourself to a prospective employer without a résumé in hand and a list of references at your fingertips. It was much the same in Paul's day. He lived in an equally mobile society that placed similar value on personal achievements and introductory letters. Itinerant speakers, in particular, were expected to carry letters of reference with them as they traveled from place to place. 

2 Corinthians 3: 1 - 6

"Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

By the Spirit who gives all of us competency in our ministry, we are all "walking letters of recommendation" for Christ. The primary evidence of the Spirit's presence should be the inward change of our hearts; it is changed lives, not sensational feats, that are the true sign of a Spirit-directed ministry.