This was a saying I took from my junior college baseball coach David Garner. “If you’re going to be a bear, be a Grizzly bear!” Meaning if you are going to do something, do it all the way, do it 100%, leave nothing, go after it with all you have and get it. Be the baddest son of a gun out there. The Grizzly Bear is one of the fiercest of animals. It is big and bad. Just what us men want to be. Nobody ever respects the man who cannot fully commit to something. It shows so many flaws in the male personality. It shows weakness, lack of motivation, lack of self confidence, lack of character, and it reveals a timid nature. Plain and simple…it shows fear! If you cannot commit to something, you’re afraid of it. Guess what? Men are not supposed to be afraid of things! Right? Let me get to the point. If I were to ask 50 men I know, if they believe in Jesus Christ and that He died for our sins and arose on the third day…I am willing to bet at least 90% of those guys would say yes…they believe. But that is where it stops…they believe! Can that get you into heaven? Yep, John 3:16 and a million other verses in the bible tell us that it can. My question is…is that being a Grizzly Bear? Just believing in God? I think that’s more like being a Koala bear! I, personally want everything God has to offer. I want everything He’s got. I cannot get this by just believing! I have to dedicate my life to Him. I have to follow Him with every bit of my heart. I have to drastically change who I am to follow Christ. I have to cut things out of my life that will separate me from God’s glory. I have to pick up my cross and follow Him everyday. If you're not happy with what God is doing in your life right now, do something about it. It's not Him, it's you. You have to do something! You have to re-commit your life. You have to move in another direction, the direction of doing what Jesus Christ wants you to do. This requires a “Grizzly” like personality. I cannot care what others will think; I cannot care what my drinking buddies will say. I’m a Grizzly, not a Koala! Check your feelings at the door. This is my life and I will determine what I do, Koala bears are easily influenced, Grizzly bears do what they want! Take your relationship with Jesus Christ a step further, go all out and see for yourself what He does for you. I can tell you, Jesus is not into the “timid nature” thing, He wants Grizzly bears, men who He knows will fight the fight. Read some of these verses below and tell me if following Christ requires a Grizzly Bear mindset or a Koala Bear mindset.
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 2:9-11
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Matt. 10:16-23
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matt. 10:32
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Matt. 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
John 5:27-28
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt. 5:43-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matt. 7:1-5
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matt. 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matt 18:6-9
If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Matt. 11:12
The kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
That’s pretty Grizzly Bear to me. The last verse is my favorite…Matt. 11:12. IF you want what God has for you…you better be ALL in. You better commit 100% to Him, or you will never see all He has for you. In other words if you can’t kill your desire to stop having sex with that girl…you’re a Koala Bear, you reap what you sow. If you cannot stop watching those porno flicks...you guessed it, you’re a Koala Bear. BE ALL IN…BE A GRIZZLY BEAR! For once in your life commit fully to something, dedicate your life to not only believing in Christ but following Him with every bit of your heart. Show your character, show your motivation, show your self confidence. Step up and attack this life. If you’re going to live this life, live it! If you’re going to claim Jesus Christ, claim Him! If you’re going to be a Bear, Be a Grizzly Bear!
