To be a real man—a tough guy—you just need to be a child.

I still have a black leather vest that I wear when riding my motorcycle—a cherry red 2010 Harley Davidson Electra Guide Ultra Classic, with Rinehart exhaust pipes you could hear coming a mile away.

The vest is weathered with rain, sweat, sunscreen, and the remains of a gazillion bugs. It’s also covered with different patches, with plenty to say.

When I wear the vest, I feel like a tough guy. My biker friends call me Revvv. Get it? I’m a pastor (Rev.), and my Harley loves it when I crank the throttle to roar down the road (rrrrrrevvvvvvv)!

But I feel much tougher than that because one patch on my vest says, “Real Men Love Jesus.”

This month, on Father’s Day, we celebrate a bunch of men. All right, guys, I’m talking to you now. Here’s the best reason to celebrate: You love Jesus.

If you can grill a burger to perfection, bring home a paycheck that makes life comfortable for your family, or crack the funniest dad jokes, you’re a good man. But much better than that, if you love Jesus, you’re a real man.

“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15).

Men, you’ll be the best dads, father figures, husbands, male spiritual leaders, business owners, or alpha males in the room when you love Jesus. You don’t need to act like the king of the universe, drive your tee shot 300 yards, ride a motorcycle, be the boss, or even have a job. To be a real man—a tough guy—you just need to be a child.

When you “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” (Mark 10:15), you take off your tough-as-leather, self-reliant vest and let Jesus’ death clothe you with real life. You invest Jesus’ foolish-sounding, impossible promises as your money-in-the-bank security. You pursue Jesus’ high expectations as your real purpose. You grip Jesus’ weakness as your strength. You memorize Jesus’ words as your real truth. Your toughness is found in Jesus’ tender love.

That’s a real man. Be a dear child who follows. Trust in God who knows more than you do. Follow divine paths to places you’ve never seen. Sing “Jesus Loves Me” with a tender heart that adores Jesus. He’s the toughest there is, you know. Because even Jesus trusts and follows his Father.

Author: Daron Lindemann
Volume 111, Number 06
Issue: June 2024