Men’s Devo: Day 4
Fight for your family – Sacrifice
- Ephesians 5:25 (ESV): “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
When you hear the word “fight,” what do you think of? Some of us might imagine two people in a street fight. Others might see two men in a boxing ring. You might envision something formal like Jiu Jitsu. No matter what comes to mind, most of us think of something aggressive and active.
You might be good at that type of fighting. And, sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do. But, for those who follow Jesus, we are called to fight in other ways that might not feel aggressive or violent at all.
As men, one of the most important areas where we are called to fight is in the area of our families. But, so many of us are unfortunately used to fighting with our family. That’s because too many men aren’t ready to fight for their families through sacrifice. We’re ready to protect them from external threats, but we’re not always ready to protect them from ourselves.
The reality is, many of us grow frustrated and even resentful towards our wives and children because our desires aren’t being met. But, if we can adjust our mindset to one of sacrifice, we’ll see our families flourishing under our leadership.
What are some areas where we are called to lay down our lives like Christ laid down His life for the church?
Sacrifice Your Time: In today’s world, it’s easy to be consumed by work, hobbies, or other obligations, but your family needs your time and presence more than anything. Ephesians 5:16 reminds us to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Prioritize family meals, conversations, and quality time together. Sometimes, the fight for your family means saying “no” to lesser things to say “yes” to what truly matters.
Sacrifice Your Comfort: Philippians 2:4 encourages us to “look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As men, we may prefer comfort, routine, or control, but fighting for your family means stepping out of that comfort zone. Whether it’s listening to your spouse when you’re tired or spending time with your kids when you’d rather relax, true leadership requires setting aside personal comfort for the good of those you love
Sacrifice Your Pride: Jesus’ sacrificial love for the church was marked by humility. Sometimes the greatest way we can fight for our families is by sacrificing our pride. Whether it’s admitting when we’re wrong, forgiving quickly, or being the first to reconcile in an argument, humility strengthens the family bond. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Fight for your family by being quick to listen, slow to speak, and willing to apologize.
If we can learn to see our calling to our families through the lens of Christ’s sacrificial love, we’ll see our families grow in strength and love! But, we’ve got to be willing to lay our lives down for them.