Lead and Shepherd or Fall and Die!

Step Up and Shepherd

Christian Devotional for Men | Step Up and Shepherd Your Home

You keep showing up, but you’re not leading.

Your family doesn’t need a roommate. They need a shepherd.

This message calls every husband and father to wake up, stand up, and lead with conviction. It’s time to stop coasting and start shepherding your home the way Jesus commands.

God’s Word for Today: 1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.” (NIV)

As men of the Shepherd, surrendered to Jesus, living in repentance, obeying His commandments, and burning with a desire to shepherd His people—starting with our families—we’re going to face some unique challenges.

Some struggles are universal. But when you’re a Christian husband and father, you’re up against something deeper, something more relentless. The enemy isn’t just after you. He’s after your legacy. He wants your home. Your marriage. Your children. He wants the next generation weak and wandering. Just look at our world today. The world is focused on the three daggers: I, me, and my. They are all tuned into WIIFM—What’s In It For Me.

And too many men are handing it over without a fight.

Let’s get real. We aren’t called to babysit the faith. We’re called to lead. To shepherd. To serve. To protect.

Here are three of the biggest challenges you’re going to face—and what to do about them.

1. A Culture That Undermines Biblical Manhood The world mocks Biblical leadership. If you open your Bible, lead with conviction, and speak truth in love, you’re labeled toxic. But Jesus didn’t ask for the world’s approval, and neither should you. Culture tells you to sit down. Jesus tells you to stand up.

Do this: Open your Bible every day and read it out loud in your home. Let your family hear it from your mouth. Let your kids grow up knowing the sound of their father’s voice declaring truth. Set this up. Be intentional.

2. Spiritual Busyness Without Spiritual Depth You serve at church. You work hard. You’re exhausted. But your soul is dry. Your kids know the Bible stories, but they don’t see you living them. And when the fire dies in you, it doesn’t take long for it to die in your house.

Do this: Pick one night a week for family devotion. Just ten minutes. Open the Word. Pray. Talk. Make it a rhythm. If you can commit to Netflix, you can commit to this.

3. Being Present But Not Leading You’re home, but you’re not guiding. You’re around, but you’re not intentional. This is one of the enemy’s slickest tactics: convince you that presence is enough.

But leadership isn’t about showing up. It’s about setting direction. Your family doesn’t just need your paycheck. They need your passion for Jesus.

Do this: Every Sunday night, set the tone for the week. Pray over your wife. Ask what your kids are walking into. Speak vision. Don’t just manage the week—lead it.

This is hard. It’s gritty. It won’t always be rewarding.

But this is the kind of obedience that makes your home strong. It gives your kids roots. It puts Jesus at the center. And the reward? You walk through the narrow gate, head held high, with your family behind you.

And if you’re trying to do all of this while being fed by a weak, lukewarm church—you’re going to starve.

Bonus Challenge: Find a Strong Church There are churches that look alive but are dead inside. They put on a good show. But there’s no growth. No discipleship. No challenge.

Don’t settle. Get in a church that:

• Preaches conviction, not comfort.
• Anchors everything in the Word of God. And this is a pet peeve of mine. How many times do they use the words I, me, or my, compared to God, Jesus, or the Bible? I recently did an empirical study of a church, and the ratio of “I, me, and my” to mentioning Jesus in any context was an astounding 8:1—with instances as high as 20:1. In some Biblically focused gatherings, Jesus, God, or the Bible wasn’t even mentioned.
• Builds men, not fans. A structured men’s ministry—not just a men’s Bible study or monthly breakfast.
• Has leaders who know your name, not just your attendance.
• Has a structured, organized, and focused discipleship ministry.

Take a long look at your church. Be honest. Is your family growing there? Are you being equipped or entertained? Are you comfortable or convicted? What does the future hold?

Is there spiritual maturity? Will you be spiritually and intellectually challenged?

We’ll be talking more about how to choose a church in the coming weeks. But don’t wait to start asking those questions.

Oswald Chambers said, Take the initiative. Instruct yourself in the way to go. Work out the salvation God has worked in you.

You don’t need a seminary degree. You need surrender and obedience.

Your first mission field is your home. Your first disciples are your wife and children.

So stop waiting for someone else to lead.
Take the initiative. Lead your family. Act in faith. And act now.

Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is: Bold Spiritual Initiative
Men who take spiritual initiative don’t wait for perfect timing. They lead with courage, model obedience, and shape the spiritual atmosphere of their home.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Where have I allowed the world to define my leadership more than the Word of God?
2. Apply – What is one spiritual habit I can start this week to lead my family better?
3. Share – Who is one man I can challenge or encourage to step up and shepherd his home?

Bible References (NIV)

1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”

Personal Prayer
Father, give me the courage to lead and the clarity to hear Your voice. I don’t want to blend in. I want to stand firm and lead my family with bold faith.

My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

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