ON THE VANGUARD

STAND UP, MEN!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13

Today’s devotional is aimed towards men; I’ll go ahead and make that known. Although everyone can benefit from the message, my main target in writing this entry is to encourage the men to stand up. As men we are called by God and given the task to be the spiritual leaders of our home. God has given us this specific mission, but are we walking it out? In our brief time today I want to show you three examples of men who did not lead their families in the way God commanded, and look at the punishment that came as a result. In so doing, it is my prayer that as standing on the vanguard of our homes has been becoming clearer to me, it will also become clearer to you. It is time we take our mission seriously, for it involves all those we love.
First, let us look at the life of Achan. Following the victory of the Israelites over Jericho, God had given specific instructions to not take the plunder of this battle. Everyone heard this command repeated by Joshua, yet still someone took. It was not made known right away. In fact, it was not made known until the defeat at Ai when an army of few defeated an army of many. As Joshua inquired of the LORD why they lost, God pointed out sin in the camp. All the tribes lined up, and one by one they were separated and excused until only Achan was left. Achan confessed his sin, but look what happened next. “Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned [his family], they burned them” (Josh 7:25). Because Achan did not take his stand as the leader of the house, he and his whole family were stoned.
Next, look with me at the life of Haman. Haman allowed his hatred for the Jews to ruin him. He was so obsessed with the obliteration of the Jews that he opened the door for his demise. By building a gallows of seventy-five feet high for Mordecai, his heart was bent on destruction. But in the end it was not only Haman that suffered for his sin. Esther 7:9 tells us that Haman was hung on the gallows he had forged, but Esther 9:13 also shows us that the queen petitioned also that his sons be hung on gallows. Again, in the end, Haman’s lack of standing for God became his family’s ruin.
Lastly, I want to look at Daniel, or more so the other administrators to the king found in chapter 6. Look with me at Daniel 6:24. “At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion’s den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” How did the wives and children get tossed into the mix of death by lions? Because the men did not stand up for God and obey God, but rather flattered the king and worked against God’s ways, the whole family suffered. Each man’s sin took the lives of the man’s family.
When will we stand up, men? We know that in standing for nothing we fall for anything. When will we rise up as the spiritual leaders that God has called us to? When will 1 Corinthians 16:13 jump off the page and become our mission? “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” Are you on guard? The enemy is looking to take you away from your post. Are you standing? We cannot afford to slouch or sleep on our watch. Are we men of courage? Be a man; be brave. And are we strong? Wimpy saints will not survive in spiritual warfare. Men, we are blessed to be in our position. For the sake ourselves, our wives, and our children, let us not throw it away.