Be a man my son: a poem on Godly manhood.

To God a sacrifice they made
as for Abel so for Cain,
Cain gave his sweat and toil,
proofs of man, fruits of soil.
Yet Abel turned not one sod,
but searched the heart of God …
and took one lamb from his flock
so burned his best upon a rock.

God would not accept the sweat,
soil and toil held no respect.
No such man is ever mine,
nor cares to even ponder why.
But Abel, he gave back to me
what was first entrust to him
that no work e’r would please
except first, it came from me …

Jacob turned from soil and toil
as Abel was, a pastoral boy …
cared for what to him was giv’n
gave up all, for His blessing.
For food, Esau forsook forever
what Jacob knew to be far better
God’s favour, as it was for Abel,
fell to him whose heart was able.

Jesse’s son so pastoral too,
sheep watcher, heart attuned
to what really makes a man
not in beauty, brawn or brain
but hearts that yield to Him.
All for Him, to live and give
and love all that He entrusts:
higher calls and greater loves.

So go, be thus a man in Him,
honest, true, wise, no sin.
As flies the arrow, so sure
keep your way true and pure ..
so account to Him alone
your life before eternal throne
to hear Him say “well done,
my servant, friend and son”.

(c) Peter Eleazar at www.bethelstone.com