For the past couple of months, I have been participating in a weekly men’s discipleship group. Each Wednesday evening, we meet for a couple of hours to discuss what it looks like to truly love and pursue God, to be His disciples, not just in word, but in truth. It has been a refreshing and energizing experience, to say the least . . . and that is actually saying quite a lot, coming from one of the world’s most introverted introverts. What started as a somewhat reluctant commitment has turned into one of the most life-giving time slots on my weekly calendar. Who knew that regular encouragement and accountability could do a body so much good?

Well, actually it has been a pretty big challenge for my body (flesh) at times, but my spirit is thriving!

As our guide for weekly conversation and structured discipleship, we have been going through the curriculum by Lonnie Berger entitled Every Man a Warrior: Helping Men Succeed in Life. Each week we are responsible for engaging in and sharing insights from daily quiet times, memorizing and reciting Scripture, and discussing some pretty challenging questions that cut straight to the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. This week’s lesson was focused on the importance of memorizing and meditating on Scripture — on becoming a “man of God’s Word.”

One of the assignments we were given this week was to study some Scriptures focused on the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts and then write a paragraph entitled Why I Want to Be a Man of the Word. Because I have always valued studying the Bible (although my track record on actually doing it has been a little spotty), I thought this assignment would be easy. Surprisingly, it was anything but. It forced me to wrestle with my hidden motivations and purposes, which always provides an open door for the Holy Spirit to challenge me at my core.

Anyway, this week I don’t really have any bullet points, section headings or clever illustrations (I know, it’s debatable as to whether “clever” ever really enters the equation). Instead, I just felt the Holy Spirit leading me to share with you my renewed commitment to becoming and living as a “man of God’s Word.” I do so in hopes that it will somehow motivate and inspire you to make or renew a similar commitment.

While what follows flows specifically from the heart of a man who longs to be firmly grounded in God’s Word, I think/hope there is some value for anyone, regardless of gender. Being a “woman of God’s Word” probably looks similar in many ways and quite different in others. Heck, even being a “man of God’s Word” probably looks a little different from person to person. Maybe you should take a few minutes to write out your own commitment. If you do, and if you feel comfortable sharing it, I would love to read it and be encouraged by your thoughts!

Anyway, without further ado, and for what it’s worth . . .

I commit myself to becoming and living as a man of the Word. 

I make this commitment first and foremost because I love God.  Through His Word, I want to know Him more fully so that I can love Him more deeply.  I long to treasure His Word in the same manner He does and to handle it responsibly and skillfully, as an act of worship.  I want to be His disciple, not just in word, but in truth. 

I commit to becoming and living as a man of the Word because I love my family and desire to lead them well.  I want to love my wife as Christ loved the Church, continually “washing her with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26).  I want to influence my children to love God and to train them to have godly character.  I long for my family to be established on the firm foundation of God’s Word so that we are encouraged and strengthened to encourage and strengthen those around us. 

I commit to becoming and living as a man of the Word because I love the Church.  I want to be used by God to help prepare His Bride for His soon return, appropriately teaching and admonishing other Christ followers to be fully devoted disciples. 

I commit to becoming and living as a man of the Word because I love the lost.  I want to be equipped through knowledge of God’s Word to share the truth that sets men free and allows them to live life more abundantly. 

I commit myself to becoming and living as a man of the Word.