After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, American men really stepped up to the plate. In great numbers, and with a strong loyalty to their country, they voluntarily reported for military duty. Our victory in WWII came largely through the responsiveness of these brave men.

Matthew 14:35-36 touches on an extremely important timeless principle that we don’t want to miss. When the Savior came into the land of Gennesaret, “And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased…[and each one was] made perfectly whole.” Please notice that it was the men who led the way here, and not the women. Men have been sold a false bill of goods from Satan to believe that being spiritually-minded is something unmanly. On the contrary, it is manly, as well as Biblical, for men to take the spiritual leadership in their home and church. Men should be ashamed when they shy away from prayer, Bible study, church attendance, and general spiritual leadership. In fact, God makes the point over and over in Scripture that men should be the driving spiritual force leading their families toward a closer walk with the Lord. Joshua stood before the spiritually anemic men of Israel and told them, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Gideon asked, “Where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?” (Judges 6:13). The Psalmist wrote, “Give ear, O my people…I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us…which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them…That they might set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:1-9). Paul wrote, “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

It is not an accident Matthew 14:35 records the men taking the spiritual leadership in bringing many to the Lord Jesus Christ. God places this in His Word to encourage men to be spiritually-minded, involved, proactive, and to provide consistent spiritual leadership in their home and church. We are in a serious warfare with Satan. Godly men are desperately needed. Don’t be AWOL. Step up to the plate.