Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Men, if we have no zeal, we are like gasoline without octane. What man wants to drive a car that has no "get up and go"? Come on! Sluggishness is definitely something we men cannot stand when it comes to driving cars or working any kind of machinery, including computers.

Some may thank that zeal sounds a little fanatical, but the truth is that most of us could do with a bit more of it! Some, a lot more of it!

True zeal spurns compromise, especially when it comes to principles. Jesus acted with zealous fanaticism to cleanse the house of God. John 2:17 tells us that it was zeal that motivated his actions.

If it's okay for communists, socialists, progressives, and Islamics to be zealots, what about Christians?

The Greek word for "zeal" is zecos meaning "heat, ardor, fervent mind." It's most important for us men to be zealous for our families, our homes, our principles, our work or career, and most important of all, our service to God. A man without zeal will tend to be overly casual. He will be a "moocher" (Do you know this word? We use it in New Zealand and Australia for loitering about aimlessly.)

A man lacking zeal is like trying to drag around a heavy weight. He has no spring in his step, no oomph in his personality, no twinkle in his eye, and no passion for anything. He is like a dead man walking. He is a bore to be around, a fire without heat, a drag on society. This is not the man being created into the image and likeness of God (Romans 8:29).

THE DEVIL CREATES ZOMBIES. GOD CREATES MEN WITH FIRE IN THEIR BONES.

Zeal knows no apathy. It deplores laziness and slackness. It believes in creativity, enthusiasm, and a job well done. Zeal cannot tolerate sitting around and accomplishing nothing (mooching!)

Zeal loves motivation. It rejoices in challenges. It will fight for what is right.

Seven times the Bible mentions God possessing and acting with zeal. Zeal is a great motivator. If God uses it to get things done, so should we. Isaiah 9:7 says, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Proverbs 28:1: "The righteous are as bold as a lion."

God Himself is bold. He despises fear and cowardice. The nation desperately needs bold men and women who will raise bold children for our present and future battles against all that is godless and unrighteous. We must be bold enough to defy all our enemies right to their proud haughty faces.

It's wrong for men to sit back and let their wife take all, or most of the family responsibilities.

Men should help when needed. They should give godly advice and discipline when needed.

They should also take their responsibility to lead the family in daily Family Devotions.

~ Colin Campbell

God looks for men who will deny themselves the easy road, especially if the easy road includes the lusts of the flesh and yielding to temptations. Everything is acceptable on the easy road, as long as it makes you feel good and requires no moral resistance. Homosexuality is okay on the easy road, as is divorce, abortion, drugs, sex, alcohol, and witchcraft.

Matthew 7:13-14 says: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth until life, and few there be that find it."

"God looks for men who will stand out from the crowd--men who will not be crowd lovers, crowd blenders, crowd pleasers, or crowd followers, but men who will dare to be different (2 Chronicles 16:9)."

~ Colin Campbell

Men who do not have "spark" are bland and boring. Their eyes are dull and lifeless. They have no oomph in their personality or spring in their step.

We know how bad it is when we keep pulling the rope to start the engine of the lawnmower but there is no spark. You feel like throwing the wrench at it! No woman should marry a man like this and no one should ever hire such a man.

Men, if we are going to be men of courage, we must speak up for what's right when the opportunity presents itself. If you have got any truth in you, for goodness sake, SAY IT! Do not hide truth behind closed doors.

Edmund Burke wrote, "All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing."

"Marriage is not about me. It's about us. The "me first" mentality is the main reason why so many marriages fail."

~ Colin Campbell

"Marriage is a journey that requires directions. These directions are provided in God's Word, coupled with prayer and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit who indwells us."

~ Colin Campbell

One of the greatest acts of courage in the Bible (and of course there are many) was displayed by Jonathan, King Saul's son in 1 Samuel, chapters 13-14. In 1 Samuel 13:5-7 we read, "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horseman, and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude... When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."

Joshua 7:11-12 says, "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed thing from among you."

The nation needs men who will not compromise their moral values, even under extreme pressure. It needs men who will not compromise truth, even if it financially advantages them to do so. Some men will say anything to get what they want, whether in marriage, promotion, election to public office, or government hand-outs.

God looks for men who will not compromise biblical values, no matter what! The Holy Spirit who indwells all Christians is not compromising. He must be grieved at the way we compromise so easily over divorce, accepting the children He wants to give us, and homeschooling them to save them from humanistic propaganda and morally corrupt peers.

~ Colin Campbell

Job said: "Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me" (Job 27:5).

A man of integrity will always speak the truth, no matter what pressure he is under to do otherwise.
A man of integrity will always speak the truth even if it hurts him to do so. 
A man of integrity will not only speak the truth; he lives the truth.
A man of integrity is trustworthy. If he says he will do something, he will do it. You can bank on his word.

Who can tolerate a spineless man?

The nation needs men with backbone--

Men with backbone in their commitment to Christ and His course!

Men who have stickability in the battle of life!

Men who will not bend and bow in the face of opposition!

Men who will not give up on their marriage and fatherhood!

Men who, no matter what the enemy hurls at them, will not quit.

~ Colin Campbell

"Marriage is a knot; not a noose!

A knot ties together; a noose is a hanging rope!

~ Colin Campbell

"Marriage ordained by God is with one man and one woman. No exceptions."

~ Colin Campbell

"Marriage is much more than a ceremony and a certificate. It is a daily building assignment."

~ Colin Campbell

Revelation 5:12: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." The Lamb of God shall reign, and all those who have become lambs, by the virtue of His blood, shall reign with him.

Men, God's government is opposite to man's government. In man's government, the eloquent, slick, smooth-tongued, rich, and powerful reign. In God's 'government those who are meek, submissive, gentle, and humble, first towards God and secondly towards their fellow-men, shall inherit the earth and reign with Christ over it.

Men of meekness are gentle with their loved ones. They do not desire to hurt or crush their feelings. They are also gentle when dealing with the souls of their fellow men whom they seek to influence for Christ at all times. However, when it is appropriate, they will not hesitate to make a bold stand for righteousness against the enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The bride in the Song of Solomon, of whom we are a type in this world, is portrayed as "Beautiful as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners." Verse 10 pictures her: "Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?"

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

Men, meekness is a great virtue that God loves to see alive and active in His people. I notice in Scripture that meekness is closely associated with other virtues . For example:

"Meekness and gentleness" (2 Corinthians 10:1).
"Lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and forbearing" (Ephesians 4:2).
"Patience and meekness" (1 Timothy 6:11).
"Gentleness and meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:2).
"Meekness and fear" when giving reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).