The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

#375 - John Eldredge // The Masculine Journey: Bring Your Whole Life to God

• Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson • Episode 375

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Saul can’t see, can’t eat, and can’t even walk into Damascus on his own, and that’s exactly where God chooses to rebuild him. John Eldridge sits in and takes us back to Acts 9, not just to highlight Saul’s conversion, but to spotlight Ananias, the kind of man most of us would overlook. He’s not famous, not powerful, not “inner circle,” and yet God calls him by name and sends him straight into a situation that feels unsafe.

We slow down and notice the part that sounds almost too human to be holy: Ananias pushes back. He tells God what he’s heard, what he fears, and what could happen if he obeys. That honest conversation becomes the doorway into a bigger theme: you can bring your whole life to Jesus. Your objections. Your anger. Your loneliness. Your confusion about why prayers feel unanswered or why relationships blow up. If we don’t bring those needs to God, we’ll carry them to something else, and that never ends well.

We also press into a deeper vision of Christian discipleship, especially for men: the goal isn’t just being a “good servant,” it’s growing into friendship with Jesus. John 15 matters here, because Jesus explicitly says he calls us friends and lets us in on what he’s doing. We close with simple, direct questions you can pray today: What is Jesus talking to me about right now? Where is he inviting me into a real conversation about my marriage, my career, or my fears?

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Welcome And Mission Of The Show

SPEAKER_00

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

John Eldridge Sits In

SPEAKER_01

Hello, I'm John Eldridge again, author of Wild at Heart, and I am sitting in for Joby and Kyle this week. Yesterday, we looked at the story of Saul, who will become the Apostle Paul, whose writings and preaching will end up changing the world.

Why Saul’s Story Matters

SPEAKER_01

I want to pick up the story and look at another character because we are wondering how God works in the lives of men.

Acts 9 And Ananias Called

SPEAKER_01

So we'll go back into the book of Acts in chapter nine and pick up with a little bit of yesterday and on into the story of Ananias. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. Now, in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision. Ananias. Yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Strait Street, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Lord, Ananias replied, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem, and he has come here with authority from the chief priest to arrest all who call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, Go. This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. And then Ananias went to the house and entered it, placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ordinary Men In God’s Story

SPEAKER_01

Again, there are so many wonderful things in these stories of God interacting in the lives of men. First off, Ananias is just a guy. He's not the chief priest, he's not even a priest. He's not in the apostles. He, for all we know, wasn't even in the inner ring. He's living in a foreign country, in a foreign city. And I love this because this ordinary guy gets in on the story of God. He has a friendship with Jesus. Notice the conversational relationship they have, friends. This is really beautiful. And Jesus comes to him and says, Hey, I need you to do something for me, which is really beautiful. Jesus doesn't just do it himself. And then I love how Ananias pushes back. He's like, wait, what? This, no, this is not a good idea. If I go to this guy's house, I'm going to get arrested. He's probably going to kill me. I love the ability of Ananias to bring everything he is.

Bring Objections And Fears To Jesus

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so this is what we're after today: the ability to bring everything to Jesus, your objections, your fears, your anger, your loneliness. Because if you don't bring your whole life to God, you're going to take it somewhere, right? You're going to go to your medications, you're going to try and have somebody come through for you in ways that only God can. And even you get to bring your frustration with God to God. Why didn't you answer that? I don't understand why this relationship blew up. How come I can't get my career together? You are invited to bring this to God. And

From Servant Language To Friendship

SPEAKER_01

what I want to point out to you is in the stages of Christian discipleship, and as men, we are growing in our life with God towards friendship. You're going to see it in the life of Paul, of course, over the years. He ends up having a very deep friendship with Jesus. You see it here in the life of Ananias. We're going to explore it in the life of David. You see, in John 15, Jesus says, I no longer call you servants. You know, all that language about, oh, I just want to be a good servant of the Lord. Well, that's not what Jesus says. He says, I don't call you servants anymore. I call you my friends because I'm letting you in on what I'm doing. John 15, right? This is what he does with Ananias, and this is what he's inviting you into. And so

Closing Questions And Next Step

SPEAKER_01

as we close today, here's what I want to leave you with. Jesus, what are you talking to me about these days? What are you wanting to have a conversation with me about? Is it my marriage? Is it my fears? Is it my career? What are you speaking to me about, Lord? Would you help me hear you and tune in to our friendship?

SPEAKER_00

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.

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Joby Martin

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Kyle Thompson

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