QOTW - What does it mean to be a man of God / woman of God?

The Question of the Week by GotQuestions.org [Click here to view this email as a webpage]( Question: "What does it mean to be a man of God?" Answer: “Man of God” is the description given to a man that follows God in every way, who obeys His commands with joy, who does not live for the things of this life but for the things of eternity, who willingly serves his God in giving freely of all his resources yet gladly suffers as a consequence of his faith. Perhaps Micah 6:8 sums up the man of God in one neat verse: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The man of God does not swindle or defraud his employer by turning up late for work or spending an hour on the internet during work hours; he doesn’t gossip or slander; he keeps his mind and heart pure by guarding his eyes and ears from the filth of the world; he is the spiritual leader of his family. He does everything opposite to what the world does or approves of; he goes "against the grain" of society because he knows these things displease God; he considers those who are "disadvantaged" or those rejected by society, those that are lonely or despairing; he is a listener to other people’s problems and does not judge. Most of all, the man of God understands that when our Lord commanded him to "be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), he is only able to accomplish that because God enables him to be “holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4) through His power and the indwelling of His Spirit. On our own, we are incapable of holiness and perfection, but through Christ who strengthens us, we can "do all things" (Philippians 4:13). The man of God knows that his new nature is that of the righteousness of Christ which was exchanged for our sinful nature at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 3:9). The final result is that he walks humbly with his God, knowing that he must rely solely upon Him to be able to live to the full and persevere to the end. Perhaps the Christian today is lacking in these qualities, but this is what simple religion is all about—the simple religion that is yet sufficient to please God: helping those in distress and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:23). We can have an awareness of all biblical doctrines, we can know all the theological terms, we may be able to translate the Bible from the original Greek and so on, but the principle of Micah 6:8 is the principle that the man of God must follow: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Recommended Resource: [The Making of a Man of God: Lessons from the Life of David by Alan Redpath]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Question: "What does it mean to be a woman of God?" Answer: A woman of God is first and foremost a daughter of God. Becoming a child of God happens through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 3:16–18, 36). When we trust in Jesus for salvation, we become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). God gives us His Holy Spirit who works in us and transforms us to become more like Christ (John 14:15–17; 1 John 4:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Most simply, a woman of God is a woman who has been saved by Jesus Christ and who submits to the work of the Holy Spirit in her. What does this look like practically? A woman of God will seek to know God more through reading His Word, communing with Him in prayer, fellowshipping with other believers, and listening to sound teaching. She knows that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17), so she seeks to know what God’s Word says. She does her “best to present [her]self to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). She also heeds James warning: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Part of doing what the Word says is having an active prayer life. Paul instructs us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” A woman of God approaches God with a grateful heart and casts her worries on God (1 Peter 5:7). She trusts in God’s ability and His love, and so she brings her worship and her concerns to His throne (Hebrews 4:14–16). A woman of God obeys God’s commands to love others well. Her speech is edifying and encouraging to others, not slanderous or filled with gossip or ill intent (Ephesians 4:29; 1 Peter 2:1–3). She is kind, compassionate, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32). She helps to bear the burdens of other believers (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:15). As she has opportunity, she tries to do good to all, especially those also in the family of God (Galatians 6:10). She is not conceited but lives with a spirit of humility (Romans 12:10, 16; Philippians 2:5–11). She does not grumble or needlessly argue or cause dissension, but rather tries to live in harmony with others (Romans 12:16, 18; Philippians 2:14). A woman of God follows Peter’s teaching to “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15–16). She attempts to “abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:11–12). A woman of God eagerly does the work God has given to her (Romans 12:11). If she is an older woman, she lives as an example to younger women (Titus 2:3–5). She spends time with other believers, encouraging them and being encouraged by them (Hebrews 10:24–25). She is submissive, meaning she takes a “you before me” posture, as all Christians are called to (Ephesians 5:21). She heeds Peter’s command to “submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority. . . . For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13–17). She knows that she is highly valued in Christ (Galatians 3:28) and chooses to imitate Him by laying down her own self-will. If she is married, she allows her husband to lead the family (Ephesians 5:21–33; 1 Peter 3:1–2). She honors her parents (Ephesians 6:1–3), and, if she has children, she cares for them (Titus 2:3–5; 1 Timothy 5:14). She manages her home well and according to godly principles (Titus 2:3–5; Proverbs 14:1; 31). A woman of God’s beauty is of her “inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3–4). Ultimately, the woman of God is a work in progress, a masterpiece of God’s, saved by His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–10), and becoming more like Jesus as she seeks to know Him and obey Him. Recommended Resource: [A Woman After God's Own Heart, Updated and Expanded by Elizabeth George]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What's new on GotQuestions.org? 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