In churches today there is a dearth of men of God—men whose hearts follow after the Lord and who are spiritual leaders in their homes.
But this dearth is not unique to our time period or culture. In 1 Samuel 13:14, Scripture notes that God had to search for such a man to lead His people: “…the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart….”
What does it take to become a “man of God”? It is not as simple as merely being a Christian man, for not every Christian man has his heart fixed on things of the Lord. Nor is it as simple as being a pastor or preacher, for doing the work of God does not guarantee that a man’s heart is right with God.
In The Making of a Man of God, author Alan Redpath develops what it means to be a “man of God” and how God develops the man’s heart who is yielded to Him. I appreciate this book for its emphasis on the heart and on spiritual leadership. I even asked the men in our church this January to read it this year. We’ve scheduled a few times throughout the year to meet for prayer and discussion of the chapters we’ve read.
The book is divided into two parts: “Tested in Training” and “Lessons in Leadership.” The first part looks at David’s life from the sheepfolds to the death of Saul, and the second covers his life as king.
Redpath, a British preacher who pastored Moody Church in Chicago for several years, was an outstanding communicator of God’s Word. His emphasis here on a man’s private walk with God before his public service and the continual need to let God examine your heart was a blessing to me. He also deals at length with fear and faith, encouraging us men to fight forward for God in causative leadership.
One of the most encouraging lessons from the life of David is that God’s mightiest men are not necessarily the strong or the qualified, but those who are wise enough to see their weakness, rely on God’s strength, and move forward in faith.
