CCT 28-1_LR

t There are few more bone-chilling words than the famous statement in the opening scene of the 2000 historical epic film, Gladiator. While leading his men into battle against what appeared to be a seemingly insurmountable enemy, the Roman general, Maximus Meridius, resounded the courageous and clarion call to “Hold the line…. Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.” 1 You see, there’s something fierce in the

men considers motivators and elements deeply rooted or connected to performance and motivation as men serve out their roles of protector, provider, and more, I also believe we must help men remember where their identities are ultimately found. Too often, men get lost in equat ing what we do with who we are, and in our never-ending pursuit to pad our resumes and puff up our reputations, we sometimes wind up sacrificing what truly matters—our relationships, integrity, and legacy along the way. Yet, I am reminded of a particular passage in Scripture located in Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) where Christ, the Son of God, was being baptized. It says, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased .’” This passage has always struck me because up to this point, Jesus had not turned water into wine, walked on water, healed the sick, or made blind eyes see. He had not performed any miracles but had remained persistent in His mission. He was not flashy… He was faithful. I believe Jesus understood something that many of us have difficulty grasping—that God’s love for us is not contingent upon what we do or do not do. He doesn’t even love us because of who we are—God loves us because of who He is (1 John 4:8). For this reason, I believe with confidence that Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that there is nothing we could do that would make God love us any less or any more than He already does. Therefore, our goal in this life should not be to earn His love but to steward what He has already given.

heart of every man… something that fuels a deep level of competitiveness that pushes us to plow past our limits and drives us to per severe no matter the cost. Men want to step up. Men want to step in. Men want to suc ceed. I have never met a man who dreamt of “sitting on the bench” in life. Every man dreams of slaying the giant, rushing into the burning house, belting the walk-off grand slam, stepping down the lunar module’s ladder onto the moon’s surface, or being at the bottom of the celebratory championship dog pile. Although many men may settle for average, I have never met one who dreamt of it. 2 However, in my work as a counselor and coach in the mental health space, I have quickly become aware that this internal drive for greatness meant to inspire us can sadly imprison us as well. If we aren’t careful and do not have our priorities, perspective, and purpose in order, our competitive nature can become a comparison trap. The habits and ways of men are often rooted in “what I do” and “what others think of me.” While I believe effective ministry to

ZACH CLINTON

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christian counseling today VOL. 28 NO. 1