Stand Up or Step Aside

Theme of the Week: Bold Risks for God

You’ve wasted enough time making excuses — it’s time to step up and lead your family like a man after God’s own heart.

You’ve heard God calling. Maybe it was years ago, or maybe it’s right now. But too many men ignore it, delay it, or explain it away. This isn’t about looking holy. This is about becoming the man your family needs — the man God has called you to be.

God’s Word for Today
Acts 4:13 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (ESV)

I need to say something to every man reading this. It’s simple, but it cuts deep: God’s been calling you, and you’ve been too busy, too distracted, or too passive to respond. I know that because I lived it. I heard the Lord calling me when I was just a boy — maybe twelve — and I ignored it. I didn’t reject Him. I just didn’t act. I didn’t listen.

Decades passed. Life kept moving. And I kept moving with it — chasing money, chasing success, trying to control everything around me while slowly drifting from the very voice I heard as a kid. Fifty years later, I can look back and see that God never stopped calling. Even when I wasn’t listening. Even when I was running.

Looking back is a strange thing. You’re not looking with the same heart or mind that made those choices. You’re older now, maybe wiser. You see with different eyes. What looked like ambition might’ve been pride. What felt like love might’ve been control. What seemed like strength was probably fear. And yet, through every twist, every failure, every loss — God was there. Moving. Shielding. Teaching. Correcting.

There was loss. I lost money. I lost businesses. I lost relationships. And for a time, I almost lost my family. But maybe, just maybe, I only lost what God didn’t want in my life to begin with. I can’t know for sure. What I do know is this — He never left me. He protected me when I was too blind to see the danger. He gave me a way out when I was surrounded. He didn’t stop the storm, but He stood with me in it.

Some men get bitter. They blame God for the mess they’re in. I never did. I never saw God as the reason for my downfalls. I saw Him as the lighthouse in the fog, the only thing I could trust when everything else collapsed. And brothers — that’s who He still is. Not a crutch. Not a safety net. A King. A Savior. A Father.

If you’ve walked through fire, let me ask you something. Do you know how gold is purified? It’s heated until everything impure rises to the surface and is burned away. What’s left? Only the real thing. That fire you hate might be the very thing God is using to make you into the man He called you to be.

I’m not proud of the years I wasted. But I am thankful. Thankful for the moments I got to be a father, a light, a guide. Not because I had it all figured out, but because God showed up in my weakest moments. And now? My heart burns for others. My heart longs to see men rise up — not just to believe in Jesus, but to follow Him boldly.

I’m talking about spiritual maturity, brothers. I’m talking about going beyond Sunday morning and actually being the man of God your family needs. Your kids are watching. Your wife is waiting. Your neighbors are wondering. And the only way they’re going to see Jesus is if He shows up in you.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. That’s not just a poetic metaphor. That’s a command. Be salt. Be light. Be someone who makes others crave the things of God. That’s what happened in Acts 4:13 — people saw Peter and John and were amazed. Not because they were smart or successful. Because they had been with Jesus.

You want your family to change? Start with your own heart. You want to lead your kids? Then spend time with the only One worth following. You want your church to grow? Then show up and serve. Be the man who doesn’t flinch, doesn’t fold, and doesn’t fade into the background. Be the one who steps up when it’s hard. That’s what leadership looks like.

And hear this: your first church is your family. That’s where it begins. You can’t shepherd others if you won’t lead your home. But your home can’t grow alone. It needs the strength of your local church. Find one. Plug in. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other men of God. Serve with them. Learn with them. Let the world be amazed by what God is doing in you — not because you’re impressive, but because you’ve been with Jesus.

So yes, I have regrets. But only one that really matters — that I didn’t answer God’s call sooner. Don’t wait like I did. Don’t lose what you don’t have to lose. Lead now. Serve now. Love now. And don’t let fear, shame, or pride keep you from the life God is calling you to live.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to follow. And when you do, when you finally stop running and start listening, God will meet you there. Not to shame you. But to raise you up.

In this week’s theme of “Bold Risks for God,”
Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is…
“Obedience over comfort.”
Because a shepherd doesn’t wait until life is easy — he obeys when God speaks.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Have I ignored or delayed God’s call on my life out of fear, pride, or comfort?
2. Apply – What’s one step I can take this week to lead my family more intentionally and spiritually?
3. Share – Who in my life needs to hear how God stayed faithful to me, even when I wasn’t faithful to Him?

Bible References (ESV)

• Acts 4:13 — “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
• Matthew 5:13–14 — “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Personal Prayer

Father, help me stop wasting time. I want to lead my family and follow You with everything I’ve got. Give me the strength to obey, even when it’s uncomfortable.

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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