“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
— John 1:14
June 6, 1944, saw the largest seaborne invasion in history—more commonly known as D-Day, the day the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy to take back land that was rightfully theirs. This month we celebrate Christmas, the ultimate D-Day: the day our heavenly Father sent the very best heaven had to offer, the Lord Jesus, to take back that which was rightfully his. Jesus came to establish his kingdom, take on evil, and make it possible for mankind to once again live in relationship with the Father.
The incarnation is also the foundation and a picture of what men’s discipleship is all about. Here are a few lessons we can apply in our work with men.
God Uses Ordinary Men to Do the Extraordinary
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:27–28
God used the ordinary things of this world to accomplish his purposes. Jesus was born to an unknown teenage girl, not a celebrity. He was born in a cold, dark cave, not in the comforts of a nice hospital or hotel. He was visited by shepherds, some of the lowest on the social ladder, not by high-ranking government officials. He was born in a small, off-the-map location, not a thriving metroplex. The God of heaven is still using normal and ordinary people to accomplish his purposes in the world.
Give Men the Home-Field Advantage
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
— John 17:18
The miracle of the incarnation is not the distance traveled; it is the change of environment. Jesus was willing to leave the glory, splendor, and majesty of heaven to come to earth and live among us. In the same way the Father sent his Son, he now calls us to leave our “holy huddles” and establish beachheads for him—at work, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and in whatever places and spaces we occupy during the course of our day. Discipleship is going to where men are and building long-term relationships of integrity, trust, and honesty.
The Closer You Get to a Man, the Greater the Impact You Will Have
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well…”
— 1 Thessalonians 2:8
You cannot impact a man from a distance. Men’s discipleship is life-on-life—one man investing in another man. Jesus was never as concerned with the multitudes as he was with a small group of men he could spend time with. While it is easy to get enamored with numbers, the greatest work is always done with the few. Find a few men in your church or community and begin to spend time with them.
One of the most descriptive passages in all of Scripture regarding the incarnation of Jesus is found in Philippians 2:5–11, where it describes in detail the “spiritual demotions” of Jesus—his journey from heaven to the cross, a journey of humility. This Christmas, as you reflect on Jesus and sing songs about Jesus, remember he calls each of us to help push back the darkness and bring light into a dark world.
Recommended Books
The Invitational Life — Steve Carter
Mobilizing Men for One-on-One Ministry — Steve Sonderman
