The Lord has led me to extend a challenge and a reminder in this article. The reminder is this, godly men choose to serve the Lord no matter what others may do. The decision to follow the Lord is one we must make daily. The decision to serve the Lord is not one we only make once, or once in a while. The decision we make is an ongoing decision and resolve every day to follow the Lord.

​Life has been defined as the sum total of all of a person’s choices. Our lives are formed by our decisions and choices. We make our choices and then our choices make us. The message is not about the past, so don’t let Satan discourage you. It is about what God can do in us and through us. It is a challenge that will help us in the future and assure our spiritual progress today.

​Have you made it your choice to serve the Lord daily?
Your wife needs you to be a godly man...
Your children need you to be a godly man…
Your business needs you to be a godly man...
Your community needs you to be a godly man...
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​If the church is going to be what God has called her to be there needs be a revival among men to choose to be Godly fathers. Joshua extended a simple challenge in his day that I pass on to us, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Clark Tatum

What if a Christian’s simple mantra was to love God and love people? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). What if, as a way of showing our love for God, we began to unconditionally love the people He so uniquely created? What would our world be like if Christ-followers acted like Jesus to everyone regardless of race, social status, or background? The apostle had not fully             arrived in his Christian maturity, but he did say, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
 
The Pharisees for the most part was rigid about the law and so proud of their ability to follow it, they felt it gave them permission to judge those who had failed. That is why Jesus had such strong words for them. Matthew 23:25-26, “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” Let us not be guilty of acting the way the Pharisees did on occasions.
 
Instead of trying to live holy lives and letting God work on their hearts the Pharisees dispersed shame, guilt and judgment on others. It is not our job as believers to inflict guilt, shame and judgment on people, but rather that is the Holy Spirit’s job (John 16:8). Our job, our ministry, can be summed up in our following Jesus His way, loving Him, and letting our love and gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 1:27, 4:5).

The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:16 that we are to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Songs were used in the Old Testament to teach, to caution and to express gratitude toward God. Songs were written for significant events such as the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15), as a reminder of God’s laws and manner for living (Deuteronomy 32), as expressions of thanksgiving for God’s gifts (1 Samuel 2), as cries for help in time of trouble or discouragement (Psalm 13), and as pure praise to God (Psalm 8). The songs we sing today still perform these functions.
     Singing is a way for everyone to actively participate in our assemblies. Each person can direct and express their deepest feelings to God through the songs we sing. Listening as others sing has some benefit, but only by singing the words ourselves can we realize the full meaning and depth in our inner being. It is not how well we can carry a tune that impresses God when we sing, but the active expressions and confessions of our hearts in song. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Let’s all resolve to praise God and encourage each other with a renewed spirit in our hearts.

Clark Tatum