Want to be Rough and Tough? 1/10/14

Good Morning,

Man this Friday took forever to get here. But it's Friday and I will rejoice in the day that the Lord has made. My coffee today will be a large cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler.

Little boys are expected to play rough, be tough, and always come back for more. Deep down inside each grown man also aspires to have that same macho image of rough and tough ascribed to their name.

I have read the formula for developing that rough tough unstoppable attitude. I thought I would share it today. One needs to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders and carry it uphill. But in order to do that one needs to start out with a simple exercise. This exercise requires kneeling down. Once through with this exercise and after making this part of every day one can take a beating without complaining, carry heavy loads, be tougher than nails, still take care of their mother, and have a sweet spirit of forgiveness. Let's see how this is done.

Matthew 26:36-46

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus Knelt and Prayed

³⁶ Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. ³⁸ Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
³⁹ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus before Pilate

15 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole ^[a]Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. ² Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He *answered him, “It is as you say.” ³ The chief priests began to accuse Him ^[b]harshly. ⁴ Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” ⁵ But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

John 19

Common English Bible (CEB)

Jesus is whipped and mocked as king

19 Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped. ² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. ³ Over and over they went up to him and said, “Greetings, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

⁴ Pilate came out of the palace again and said to the Jewish leaders, “Look! I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no grounds for a charge against him.” ⁵ When Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here’s the man.”

Luke 23:34 Jesus is Tough Enough to Forgive

King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

John 19:25-29 Jesus on a Rough day Still Took Care of His Mother. This proves He was tougher than nails.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Behold Your Mother

²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

The King on a Cross John 19:17-18

¹⁷ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 

Being tough starts with kneeling and prayer. Only God can equip and carry us through the worst of days. In other words a manly man is a man of prayer.

God bless,
Marty