Men's Summit Devotional: A Daily Discipleship Guide

By Gateway Men

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
—Proverbs 27:17 NLT

Life isn't meant to be lived alone. These messages come straight from the heart of everyday men who have faced challenges and grown spiritually. Their stories will inspire you to go deeper in your relationship with God and with others.
Each message addresses a key aspect of a man's life and walk with God:

Brotherhood
Fatherhood
Freedom
Marriage
Sonship
Spiritual Warfare
Worship

You can begin this 365-day devotional any day of the year.

Gateway Men recognizes that every man has an innate desire to be part of something bigger than himself. They strive to empower men to impact their workplaces, their communities, and most importantly, their families for the kingdom of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949399578

Book preview

men.gatewaypeople.com.

January 1

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (ESV)

There is a war going on in the Church today just as there was in the Corinthian Church when Paul wrote these words.

Paul’s opponents were denying his authority and portraying him as weak. Though perhaps weak in the flesh, Paul says he does not war according to the flesh but draws on God’s divine power to destroy strongholds. These strongholds include pride, ignorance, and laziness. Jesus promised to give us this same power through the Helper—the Holy Spirit (John 14:16)—who bears witness about Him.

Paul says these weapons can destroy those arguments by calling out those who would condone sin or impenitence or who ridiculed or taught against the doctrine of the gospel. The ultimate goal and result are obedience to Christ.

Finally, every disobedience will be punished. The truth shall come to bear in due time. Nevertheless, Paul also leaves open that when disobedience is overcome, those who remain and return to obedience will be saved and not be punished.

January 2

BROTHERHOOD

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

I have played the game of football most of my life. That means I have been on rosters with 30–50 guys from all walks of life. Every season, new faces come in, and old faces head out. A winning program requires chemistry, leadership, and most importantly, a locker room of brothers.

In 1992, I was a freshman on the Lewisville, Texas, High School varsity team. We had a decent year but a short stay in the playoffs. We were eliminated by perennial powerhouse Odessa Permian in the third round. We could have been discouraged and pointed fingers at one another, but we didn’t. We made a goal to work hard in the off-season and come back stronger than ever. Our coaches told us to stick together through thick and thin and to have each other’s back. That spring we trained our tails off. The team ate dinner together as a family every Thursday night. Finally, in 1993, all the blood, sweat, and hard work as brothers paid off—we won the Texas 5A title. Every time I get together with my former teammates, even though it’s been more than 20 years, we love on each other and reminisce about the good old days.

January 3

FATHERHOOD

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

You have probably heard it said, Any boy can make a baby, but it takes a man to raise one. This cliché reminds me that in order to be a father, I not only need to be a male, but I also need to act like a man.

Paul talks about manhood in one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 13, better known as the Love chapter. He uses love as the backdrop for manhood. He begins by explaining that we could be great at many things in life, but if we don’t love, whatever we do has no purpose. If we aren’t fathers who love like men, we will not be successful parents in God’s eyes.

Let’s relook at love in this chapter by replacing the word love with a man.

A man is patient and kind. A man is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. A man does not demand his own way. A man is not irritable, and he keeps no record of being wronged. A man does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. A man never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4–7, paraphrased).

I pray that you will parent like a man.

January 4

FREEDOM

It matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.… What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

1 Corinthians 3:4, 7 (NLT)

I often go through ups and downs in regard to my self-image. If I think too low of myself, I assume the solution is to think more highly of myself. If I think too highly of myself, I believe I needed to be humbler. Neither works, though.

The apostle Paul puts it very simply in 1 Corinthians 4. He knows others cannot justify him, and he also knows he cannot justify himself. So what does he say? He says that it is the Lord who judges him. It is only His opinion that counts.

This is good news! You are fully accepted once you accept God. No opinion matters other than God’s. Jesus made you right with God through His sacrifice. We are not on trial daily. The verdict is in! You are accepted!

January 5

MARRIAGE

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)

Being married is by far the most fulfilling relationship you can ever have. Connecting with your wife on a deep level spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally also leads to a fulfilling, intimate physical relationship. Marriage is not about physical sex, but that is a natural byproduct: a physical manifestation of a spiritual reality birthed by genuine spiritual intimacy. Spiritual intimacy with God births eternal life—life in the Spirit. Likewise, physical intimacy is how human life is recreated.

Men, we must love our wives as Christ loves His Church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). God commands us to represent Him to our wives. God is love, and we are made in His image. Love gives unconditionally. As we love our wives, we bring heaven into the marriage and into the home.

First Corinthians 13 gives some guidance as to what love is. Our interaction with our wives is always to be loving. If there’s a difference in opinion, you may be right, but you don't have to exert your rightness. In any given situation, always ask yourself, What is the loving thing to do or say? If everything we do is done in love, we will find that God is in it, because that is who He is.

January 6

SONSHIP

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1 (NIV)

One day after church, my wife and I met with a group of friends for lunch and began discussing how we each struggle with maintaining an authentic heritage as sons and daughters of God. We shared how disappointed we feel when we show our humanity.

My friend Mick pointed out that when we lay claim to our identity as sons and daughters of God, we can rely on the redemption and power of Jesus’ blood that was shed for our sins, even during those times when we are not exactly Christlike.

Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are a new creation in Christ. The new has replaced the old. Not only are we forgiven of our sins, but we are also sanctified (set apart) through the blood of Christ (Hebrews 13:12).

Being covered with His blood is like wax on a car that repels water and dirt. We do not become sin-proof, but we are covered with a protective coating of Jesus’ blood. It helps us avoid sin and makes sin less likely to stick.

We need to lay claim to our identity as redeemed children of God—children who sometimes mess up and miss the mark but who know that when they do, they can repent and strive to do better. In doing so, the Father will be glorified.

January 7

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)

Abraham’s testimony is fascinating to me. He was a man of what we might call radical faith. But for him, it was just being able to hear God clearly and then obeying. In Genesis 22:2 God tested Abraham’s faith:

"Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (NKJV).

Like any father put in this situation, there would probably be many questions to make sure you heard God correctly, but this word from God is full of confirmations.

Take now your son: Abraham had two sons—Ishmael and Isaac.

Your only son: In Genesis 21:10–13, God refers to Ishmael as the son of the bondwoman, who shall not be heir with my [God’s] son, namely with Isaac,—whom God refers to as Abraham’s seed.

Isaac, whom you love.

Whatever God is calling you to do, He will clearly communicate. Abraham walked in peace because his heart was tuned to what God was saying. Yes, he might have wrestled with what was being communicated, but Abraham knew exactly what was expected of him. Likewise, we need to be tuned in to what God has to say. Dig into His Word. Get to know God’s character and only then will you begin to recognize His voice.

January 8

WORSHIP

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.

1 Chronicles 16:23–25 (NIV)

I grew up in church. My two earliest memories are before age two, in Mom’s arms sitting in church. I’ve experienced church in three different languages, three countries, and six denominations. Worship, while different in each setting, had the same goal of connecting with God. But what is worship?

Simply put, worship is worth-ship. We express demonstratively that God is worth our full attention and worth expressing our love to through song, prayer, offerings, fellowship, and acts of service to others. Worship in church is for those who have discovered Him or something about Him. But He wants the entire world to know it.

Therefore, worship of God is not just done in church. He wants us to worship Him in our homes, our schools, our recreation, and our jobs. In these places we encounter people who don’t know Him yet, so we must take Him to them. He wants them to know too. If God really is as worthy as we express on Sundays, then taking Him to school, to work, and into our relationships will clearly demonstrate that He is the best investment we can make in life.

January 9

BROTHERHOOD

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

1 Peter 2:17 (NLT)

One of the hardest things for me to get into my stubborn heart was the concept of love. I did not know that respect went along with love. Some translations of the Bible use the word honor instead of respect in that verse.

It had never crossed my mind that honor, respect, and love could somehow be interconnected. I understood where and how to use the words; the problem was that the understanding was only in my head. The head is our thinker. The heart, however, is our knower. Once love made its way to my heart, honor and respect soon followed.

Second Peter 1:7 says to supplement godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone (NLT). Peter urges believers to add things to their faith. This requires an intentional effort on our part. See the full text of 2 Peter 1:5–9. We can understand this principle by opening our heart to it. When we interact with others with respect and honor as well as love, it completely changes everything. A spiritually weaker brother is strengthened. A spiritually stronger brother shares his strength. Those without Christ come to want what the child of God has. It is all built on the foundation of the love of the brotherhood.

January 10

FATHERHOOD

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, imitate me.

1 Corinthians 4:15–16 (NKJV)

We don’t know if the apostle Paul fathered any biological children, but we do know he had many spiritual children whom he begot through the gospel. Paul could urge his children to imitate him because he was living out the life he believed in and talked about so much. He was so proud of his spiritual son Timothy that he sent him to the Corinthians and said that he will remind you of my ways in Christ (v. 17).

Today we can find teachers almost anywhere—television, books, magazines, blogs, and even in pulpits. But fathers are few. We have a generation that is hungry for more than mere instruction; they are looking for real fathers. How about in our homes? Do we simply instruct our children, or do we father them? A real father is loyal and relentless. A real father disciplines and restores. In short, a real father imitates Christ. What a blessing it is for our sons and daughters, both spiritual and biological, when we choose to imitate Christ!

We have great influence on our children. Let’s make it a good one by choosing to imitate Christ. That way, when our children begin to act like us, they will actually be reflecting our Lord and Savior.

January 11

FREEDOM

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

I was picking through 1,500 used tires to find 500 to resell. The others would be discarded—sent to the shredder to be repurposed for a different kind of value. Some would be chopped into garden mulch; some would be finely cut up to be placed in football fields. Other tires would be thrown into cement kilns to make cement stronger or melted into asphalt.

As I thought about the words value and discarded, the Lord showed me some comparisons between tires and people:

Tires come in different shapes and sizes; so do people.

Tires are made by different manufacturers from around the world. People come from all over the world too.

Some tire edges wear out because of poor alignment. People wear life differently too.

Some tires have inner cuts, where the driver has hit a curb. You can’t see it on the outside, so you have to look inside. People also have inner wounds that you can’t see. They let these wounds keep them bound up in shame and guilt. They look good on the outside, but inside, their hearts are scarred.

When tires get pierced by a screw or nail, they can sometimes be repaired by a patch and regain their value. The same is true for people. When you were saved, you were welcomed and accepted by Christ. You regained your value. The old life was gone, and you became a new creation.

January 12

MARRIAGE

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 (NASB)

Our first year of marriage left my wife and me concluding we had missed God. My wife had been a single mother for 12 years, and I, in my late 20’s, had never been married. We were both set in our ways. I knew everything, or at least I thought I did. Then our marriage counselor explained what 1 Peter 3:7 meant. God has called men to lead. Therefore, if my job is to lead, then my wife’s job is to follow. If I am bitter, angry, and upset, and my wife is bitter, angry, and upset, then she is simply doing what she is being led by me to do. I had to change to become the leader God called me to be.

You have been given authority to lead your household. You set the tone for your family. When Peter says, as with someone weaker, this does not mean your wife is weaker spiritually or morally; this refers just to physical strength. Therefore, be more delicate with her. Treat her as fine crystal that must be carefully handled; do that by showing her honor and grace. When you treat each other as God designed you to, you can understand the fullness of who God is and the fullness of Christ in you.

January 13

SONSHIP

We are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

1 John 3:2 (NLT)

In the natural, we first have to be sons before we can be anything else. So it is in the Spirit: sonship precedes everything else.

Yahweh is the great I Am. He defines being. When we become sons of God at salvation, we become everything else—we find our being. The Christian salvation experience is much more than a ticket to heaven. It is the entry into being everything that God has called us to be: For in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28 NKJV).

When we gain our true being by becoming sons of God, life takes on a whole new meaning. Once we are rightly related with God as His sons, we can rightly relate with others—as brothers, husbands, fathers, and friends.

To be fulfilled in life and to accomplish our divine destiny, we need to be successful in all of our relationships—and it starts by being sons of God.

Have you accepted God as your Father? Are you enjoying all the benefits of being His son?

January 14

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 (NLT)

Last year I started running. I used to hate running and would only do it when absolutely necessary. Now, however, I find great joy in running. This did not happen overnight; it happened with some introspection. I felt stagnant, unhealthy, and bored. I needed a goal. Somehow, I ended up picking a half marathon. This was a big bite for me, but I knew that if I had that goal and paid for it, I would have real motivation to train. Along with the training, I found a passion for running that I never imagined.

Some think that being a disciple should be easy. They are wrong. We are in a spiritual battle that requires discipline and training. If you try to run a half marathon without proper training, you might complete it, but it will destroy you. In Christianity, we face battles far greater than any race.

Our training for spiritual warfare comes in the quiet places, where we connect with our Lord. There we learn the discipline that Paul speaks of. Get to know God in the quiet places. You will be amazed how you will start to enjoy your training, and you will one day look up to receive your prize.

January 15

WORSHIP

Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

1 Kings 3:7 (NASB)

We had not been attending church for a season. After having visited a certain church a few times, we really felt as though God was calling us back into fellowship with Him. My wife asked me what I thought of that particular church, and I said the pastor’s teaching was great. My only complaint was that they spent too much time singing. Nevertheless, I got used to it, and God met us in that church.

Some years later, God decided it was time for us to move. He directed our change of residence, job location, church, and most importantly, our going out and coming in. We joined Gateway Church and shortly thereafter attended a class entitled Music & Miracles. We learned how people like David would come in to God’s presence with worship. We were reminded how worshippers would go out ahead of the army (2 Chronicles 20:21).

I love worship time at church now. I am no better a singer, but my Papa loves my voice! When a small child wants his daddy, he will approach with arms raised and face upturned expectantly. The child is saying, Hold me Daddy, I am yours. This is how we come into God’s presence—with full surrender to His loving embrace.

January 16

BROTHERHOOD

Jonathan shouted to his armor bearer, Up! Follow me! God has turned them over to Israel! Jonathan scrambled up on all fours, his armor bearer right on his heels. When the Philistines came running up to them, he knocked them flat, his armor bearer right behind finishing them off, bashing their heads in with stones.

1 Samuel 14:13 (MSG)

The name Jonathan means the Lord gives. In this verse, the Lord has given Jonathan a brave armor bearer. After all, they were not just attacking a few lone Philistines. Instead, they charged full on into an entrenched camp, just the two of them—and they won the day, spurring the entire Israelite army to action. Why was the armor bearer so important? This man—this brother—made sure that, as Jonathan fought and moved from one opponent to another, the enemies that were knocked down, stayed down.

The Lord wants to give you brothers. Not siblings by birth, but spiritual brothers: men you can call at three in the morning when life has just dropped a kitchen sink on your head and kicked you in the gut as you lay on the ground dazed.

Brothers provide advice, wisdom, comradery, and accountability—iron sharpening iron. When trouble comes, brothers prayerfully join together, signaling to the enemy that this will not be a battle against one man, but against many sons of God, saved and loved by Jesus. Your armor bearers will be ready to smash the enemy on the head, ensuring that their brother’s back is covered.

January 17

FATHERHOOD

There is one God, the Father,

by whom all things were created,

and for whom we live.

And there is one lord, Jesus Christ,

Through whom all things were created,

And through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT)

This Scripture says that the Father is the Creator, and He created everything through Jesus. If the Father is the Creator, does that mean He is always creating things for us?

How many times have you been in a situation in which you said only God could have coordinated that? Could these random situations be the Father creating things just for you? Open your mind to the possibility that all those times, you were receiving a big kiss of love from the Father.

What would life be like if we were just as creative with our kids? Perhaps we take a surprise trip or make an unexpected visit. How much joy would we bring to them? What joy would it bring to us? Can you imagine how much joy we bring to the Father when we acknowledge that He is doing the creating for us? Unleash the creative juices and find new ways to bless your family. At the same time, receive with thanksgiving all that the Father continues to create for you.

January 18

FREEDOM

For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

1 Peter 2:16 (NLT)

We are limited in our language to capture the richness of God’s love and explain our relationship with Him. God offers us a free gift of salvation, in which He exchanges our sin for the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Then He declares us free. At the same time, we are also God’s slaves. He purchased us; Jesus’ blood paid the price. Therefore, both statements are true at the same time. We are free, and we are His slaves—and He gives His slaves freedom.

Peter warns us against abusing this freedom. God is love. He is righteous, and there is no evil in Him. However, because God has given us free will, we can still make choices that are offensive and hurt His heart. He has all the rights of ownership, yet He chooses to give us full freedom of choice.

We are free to choose good. We are free to choose love. We are free to surrender to God’s will. How will we live out our freedom? Will we turn our backs on Him and do evil? No! Let us be filled with gratitude and in the fullness of our freedom, choose to honor, serve, and love our God. We are free slaves—we get to choose.

January 19

MARRIAGE

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

Marriage is the most important social structure established by God. Marriage was ordained by God for the family to grow and thrive under His grace and provision.

The unity of husband and wife as one is critical. In 1 Peter 3:7, there are several commands and a promise. God commands the husband to give honor to his wife. It is not a suggestion. He also says to treat her with understanding. Again, there is no option or ambivalence in the language.

It goes on to acknowledge that there is a difference in men and women’s makeup. He implies that the wife may need to be protected because she is weaker; however, we are equals in the marriage partnership because of our new life in God. The wife possesses the same power of the Spirit. We may be different, but we are equal and unique in His eyes.

When you honor your wife with understanding, God promises that your prayers will be heard and not be hindered. You will be blessed beyond your imagination when you treat God’s daughter as He planned.

January 20

SONSHIP

For everyone born of God overcomes the world.

1 John 5:4 (NIV)

Did you know that you are born of God—and that makes you His son? You have His seed in you, and that seed has the capability to overcome the world.

I grew up in Sri Lanka, a small island country in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka was colonized by the British for centuries, so I used to play cricket growing up. I was so good at it that I wanted to play for the national team. Today, my son plays baseball. And I’m nuts about it. When he swings, I get excited! When he connects, I go crazy! I know that somewhere inside