Don't Look Over Your Shoulder

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to the men's morning devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

Christian Calatayud 0:26

Good morning, gentlemen. Christian Kaladiud back here with your man up moment this beautiful Tuesday. We're here in Proverbs chapter 10, and today's devotional is called The Man Who Doesn't Look Over His Shoulder. The scripture verse we're going to be reading today is Proverbs 10, 9 that says, Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. You know, there's a specific kind of freedom in this verse that frankly a lot of men never experience. Walking securely. Not confidently because we're skilled, or not confidently because we're strong, but securely because we have nothing to hide. Because there is nowhere our path can't be checked. You see, the crooked path, it always feels faster than the first. And that's exactly why we take it sometimes, man. But Solomon says the man on the crooked path will be found out. Not might, not maybe, not you know, at some point, no, will be found out. And it's really not a threat. It's a description of how a moral universe actually works. As much as the world does, the Bible refuses to separate a man's private choices from his public character. There's no crooked path a man can walk in secret that doesn't eventually shape the man, his family, his church, his co-workers, his friends actually get. You see, today we need to understand integrity as a wholeness. A man who is the same person, whether he's being watched or not. That's where the word actually comes from, undivided. A man of integrity, he isn't sinless. He's undivided. What you see is what is actually there. And that's why the secure men don't need to manage two versions of themselves. They're not spending energy remembering which story he told to which person. He's not looking over his shoulder, wondering who might find out. There's nothing to find because there's nothing hidden. Gentlemen, crooked paths cost more than they promise. And frankly, they cost a man his rest. So here's our man up challenge for today. Ask yourself Is there a version of me that only exists because someone hasn't found out yet? And if that's the case, that's a crooked path. No matter how small. We need to take one step today to straightening it out. To tell the truth that we've been avoiding, to close the account, to end the practice. Walk today so you don't have to look over your shoulder tomorrow. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you. We thank you that integrity isn't perfection. It's a wholeness. And it's a wholeness before you. So, Lord Jesus, forgive us for the crooked paths that we've told ourselves were harmless. Make us the same man in every room, in every relationship, in every aspect, Lord, whether someone's watching or not. Lord, let us walk securely, because we have nothing left to hide. We love you, we praise you, and we thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.