Maximized Manhood – Day 7

As I start a new workweek today we also come to the final day of the Maximized Manhood devotional with Lonnie Barker. It has been a powerful devotional and I am excited to have gotten to find it at this point in the year. So today I choose to finish strong and dig deep into this final message.

Today’s devotional is described as follows:

If there ever was a time for men to show up and rewrite the narrative of what it means to be a man of integrity, a good husband and a better father, that time is now. The fad of the absentee Dad is outdated, and we as men have to step up to the plate and be the fathers, husbands and leaders God has called us to be.

Maximized Manhood | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible

Scripture from Today’s Devotional:

What better place to start our day and even start our devotional that in God’s Word? God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. God’s Word never returns void and so before looking for others to speak, we need to hear from God first! When we need to cut through the noise, the mess that life can bring we need to take God’s Word into that space because the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul, and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. So let’s be the dads who go to God’s Word before we turn on the news be it tv or radio or online! Let’s be the dads who listen for God to speak before we decide how to move forward! Let’s be the dads who will lean on and trust God and acknowledge Him more than lean on our own understanding!

Let’s be the dads who are fruitful and multiply, producing the fruit of the Spirit in and through our lives!

Let’s be the dads who are being good stewards as we fill the earth and govern it! Let’s be the dads who accept the calling of God to reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground! Let’s be the dads who are good stewards of what God has given to us because we know that “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].” Let’s be the dads who realize that every good and perfect gift comes from God and so we need to be good stewards of them! Let’s be the dads who are productive with all that God has given us! Let’s be the dads who are taking what God has given us and through good stewardship multiply like the men who were given talents and received praise from the master!

‘ “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’ “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger]. ‘

Matthew 25:14-30

Today’s devotional has been provided to us by REALationships Marriage Ministry.

Reading through today’s devotional, here are some takeaways for me: (check out the devotional on your own too to see if you pick up other nuggets, and please share your findings in the comments)

For more information, please visit REALationships.

Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“Producer“

• What comes to mind when you hear the word producer?
• Do you think of the media industry and someone who produces something like a song or a show or a movie?
• Do you think of it as someone who creates or produces anything?
• Today’s devotional give us this definition: “[pruh-doo-ser] noun a person who produces“.
• Before we jump into the devotional, let’s take a moment and hear from Lonnie in his YouTube video on the subject.

• Let’s be the dads who know we are created in God’s image!
• Let’s be the dads who realize we have the same creative force within us!
• Let’s be the dads who speak a great marriage into existence!
• Let’s be the dads who speak a great relationship with our kids into existence!
• Let’s be the dads who speak into existence being mighty men of God!
• Let’s be the dads who are producing! creating! building!
• Let’s be the dads who make this world a better place because we lived here!
• Let’s be the dads who take the gifts God has given us and be fruitful rather than hiding them!
• Let’s be the dads who take the gifts God has given us and multiply them!
• Let’s be the dads who grab onto “the authority to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth“!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that “we are producers, and if you’re not producing, you’re not being fruitful“!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that “as producers, we are creators and manufacturers“!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to create great marriages!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to create strong families!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to create closer relationships with our kids!
• Let’s be the dads who know that we were created in the image of God!
• Let’s be the dads who know that because of this we have the same ability to create “something out of nothing“!
• Let’s be the dads who know that “God has equipped us with every gift, talent, and ability to produce fruit on the earth“!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that the fruit we produce “is not always in the form of money or material things“!
• Let’s be the dads who look to produce fruit that “blesses others, inspires people or is a benefit to humanity“!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to live lives where this will be impacted by our existing rather than being indifferent to what we’ve produced!
• Let’s be the dads who are using the gifts and talents God has given us to their full potential!
• Today’s devotional closes with the following thought, call to action, and prayer:
  • “I’m reminded of the parable Jesus told of the men with the talents in Matthew 25. The master gave each of his servants talents based on their own abilities. To one he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another he gave one talent. The servant that was given five talents took them and put them to work and doubled it. The servant with two talents did likewise and doubled it. Meanwhile, the servant who was given only one talent took it and hid it. When the master came to collect on his investment, the ones he gave five talents and two talents both maximized their potential and invested their gifts for the master’s use, while the one with only one talent allowed his talent to lie dormant and, out of fear, he never realized his full potential. So the master took the one talent he had and gave it to the one who produced ten. Are you utilizing your gifts and talents to their maximum potential? Are you practicing or producing? Are you just being a busybody with no results, wasting time being unfruitful and making excuses for your lack of productivity? It’s time to execute! You are a producer, so stop with the excuses and produce!“
  • “Call To Action: Create a list of goals you would like to achieve that are bigger than yourself. Every day do something that moves you a step closer to reaching that goal. Anything that hinders you from moving toward that goal is a distraction and needs to be eliminated. Go!“
  • “Prayer: God, You are the Creator of everything in this world. You made the heavens, the earth, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the seas and so much more. With just the sound of Your voice, You spoke things into existence. I thank You for giving me the same power of creativity and authority. I surrender to You, and ask that You teach me to be fruitful and productive with my time and talents. In Jesus’ name, Amen.“