A couple weeks ago my wife and I watched the movie Courageous (the book "The Resolution for Men" is based on the movie). In short, it is a piercing and convicting story about several men who, as the result of the tragedy in one of their lives, committed to actively being godly examples for their families and teaching them the higher ways of God. The commitment was not taken lightly. The men got together with their families and had a formal ceremony in which they pledged the following before each other and God:
- I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
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I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
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I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
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I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
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I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
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I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
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I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
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I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
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I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
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I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
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I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His Church, obey His Word, and do His will.
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I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.