The men closest to Jesus while he walked the earth heard him say some startling things.  One of the most startling was when he called us to die to ourselves.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it.”  (Luke 9:23-24)

According to Jesus, real heroes are not those who win battles but those who lose their lives for others.  The cross is a symbol of death: dying to our own self-centered desires so that we can consistently give our time, attention and resources to a wife, children, grandchildren and others God places in our path.  Boys live for themselves.  But men, heroic men, give their lives for others. 

Heroic Challenge #5:  Take time to pray the following prayer right now.  Insert specific names of those you are called to give your life to such as a wife, child, grandchild, future spouse, etc.

Dear God: 

I accept the challenge to be more like Jesus by losing my life for INSERT NAME.  Help me overcome cowardly self-interest and lay down my life for HIM/HER today by DESCRIBE A SPECIFIC ACTION.  

Amen       

Going Further:

• Click the appropriate link(s) below to find TOOLS FOR MEN that fit your current life season(s).
  • THE INTENTIONAL SINGLE MAN
  • THE INTENTIONAL HUSBAND
  • THE INTENTIONAL FATHER  
  • THE INTENTIONAL GRANDFATHER
  • THE INTENTIONAL MENTOR