Blurred Vision - Mack

Hey Guys!

First off, what about that snow??? Kinda crazy right?! I don't think I've ever seen snowfall like that in Texas. I was driving to work today and it was tough to see very far ahead of me. Speaking of obscured vision, we started a new series last night (like the transition?). The title of course is "Blurred Vision". Last night we talked about the biblical view of a man and how often that get's eclipsed by our world's view of what a man is. We called that view the "mack". Our society often sees a man as someone who is in constant pursuit of a physical relationship with females.

Last night we talked about how bogus that was. The Bible doesn't see a man in that way. As a matter of fact we took a look at 1 Timothy 5:1-2 where Paul encourages Timothy to treat "younger women as sisters with absolute purity." So we talked about how a real man is dedicated to purity and sacrifice. Once you do that, you are a true man and you are preparing for a real marriage relationship when you get older. One of the big ideas from last night was "Commitment comes before the benefit of that commitment."

To call the men in our group to action we said that a godly man does the following:

1. M - Makes a covenant with his eyes. That means when you are talking to a girl, you look her in the eyes. It means that you don't look longingly or lustfully at a young lady. It also means that you set parameters for yourself when you get on the internet. Don't look at pornographic sites and don't look at other sites where females are dressed inappropriately.

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. (Job 31:1)

2. A - Aim your sites differently in a relationship. I repeated several times last night, "I'm not saying that you need to be in a relationship, that's between you and your parents." So don't get me wrong, I would highly suggest you not be in a relationship but if you do or when you do, your focus needs to be on getting to know the person. You cannot make your intent or focus on making it to the next stage of physical contact. That makes the person you are dating feel used and it makes you a "mack" instead of a man. Friendship should be the focus.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25)

3. N - Name your boundaries - If you don't set physical boundaries at the beginning of the relationship, you are doomed to failure. I know that it doesn't come naturally but that's precisely why you need to put them there. Once you communicate those boundaries (like "we're just going to hold hands"), stick to that plan and get accountability from a Christ like friend, you will be on track to living life like a man.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit. (Prov. 25:28)

Matt Snellings

Junior High Pastor

Chase Oaks Church