I have known some bullies in my day. Sadly, I have known professing Christians who are bullies. I have been appalled at their attitude that God has somehow given them the right and/or authority to treat others as they wish. Often, this attitude is a result of a heinous, self serving twisting of Scripture.
If we are to be truly Christ-like, we must desire to emulate Christ as He is revealed to us in Scripture and Jesus is not a bully. When Christ lived here on earth, He was a man who flawlessly executed the will of the Father. Yes, his primary purpose was to seek and to save that which was lost. He did this when he lived a sinless life, was hung on a cross to die for the sins of men and was raised again on the third day. In living this sinless life, he was an example to us about how we should live our lives. He came to serve and he came to show us what godly love is.
Christ willingly sacrificed himself for those whom He loved. As men, especially for those who claim to be men of God, how often can we honestly say that we willingly sacrifice ourselves for those whom we love? Or, do we bully those whom we are supposed to love into compulsory servitude to us.
Eph 5:25 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Col 3:19 ESV Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Col 3:21 ESV Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Men, let's repent of our selfishness today and make a commitment to show our families what true godly love is. We need to renew this commitment every day as our flesh will fight to do what it wants, to take what it wants and to demand what it wants. So, let me encourage you to ask God for the grace to be the type of husband and father that He wants you to be.
It is only by God's grace that we can hope to do it.
