I've been listening to an absolutely remarkable series of podcasts over the last month or so. John Eldredge has recorded these in support of a book his ministry is releasing this spring entitled Fathered by God. His premise is that every man must pass through six stages in his life: Beloved Son, Cowboy, Warrior, Lover, King and Sage. The last stage, that of Sage struck a deep chord for me because I've come to realize that there are no old men of God in my life.
Certainly, I have several male friends in their sixties, but only two who profess to be Christian. And unfortunately, even both have confessed Christ for many years, neither has really grown to be an elder in the Body of Christ.
The role of the Sage is critical to those of us that are "coming up through the ranks," so to speak. It is so necessary to the discipleship of men that the LORD has, throughout history, specifically assigned Godly elders to various figures in Scripture:
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me."Samuel went on to anoint Saul and David as kings of Israel, counseling, rebuking, mentoring and teaching them for the rest of his days. His preparation for that role came at the feet of Eli, an old priest whose eyes were "growing dim."
Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. -- 1 Samuel 3:8-9 [NKJV]
The temptation is surely strong for a man, having worked for several decades, to retire to the sunshine and fairways of Florida or Arizona. But we who are in the thick of battle need you. We need you to be grown up in the LORD. We need to you be a conduit for God's word. We need someone to follow.
Wherever you are... come back. We stand ready to listen.
Be encouraged, Jose
Ransomed Heart Ministries Podcasts, click here ... Going Deeper, Podcasts
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