Three Purposes for Our Lives
John Eldridge, author of Wild at Heart, says God has created men for three purposes; a cause to die for, a challenge to embrace, and loved ones to protect. If we run from these responsibilities we will lose our true identity—the identity God gave us before we ever came to be.
Christ is our model for manhood – He had a ‘cause’ to die for – atonement for the sins of the world, a challenge to embrace—the suffering of the cross, and love ones to protect-- the redemption of mankind.
1 What cause, larger than yourself, are you prepared to die for?
2 What challenge does God want you to embrace?
3 Who has God called you to protect?
Living in accordance with who God wired (ordained, designed, created) you to be will take courage and risk. We are told in Scripture to…
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
My friend Erwin McManus says “courage is not the absence of fear; it is the absence of self.
Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton posted the following advertisement in 1913:
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.
Who would respond to such an ad?
More than five thousand men applied for twenty-six slots.
Taking risks is a part of life. Taking risks is a part of every man’s DNA.
What have you risked for the sake of another lately?
What have you risked for the sake of God’s kingdom lately?
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
It is fairly easy today to sound like an expert on just about anything to day. The Internet gives us access to data on just about any subject. We can sound like an expert.
Politicians often make statements, declarations, proclamations and promises they rarely keep. Each political hopeful builds his campaign on the broken promises of the politicians they hope to replace—the cycle repeats itself over and over again. The same can be said of many Christian leaders. Talk is cheap as the saying goes. Standing in stark contrast to empty rhetoric is committed action.
You see--nobody really cares what you have to say until they observe how you live. If you live a life of courage, honor, and integrity; if your life bears testimony to what you believe and what you value; if you choose to live and act in accordance with God’s redemptive purposes—then people will notice, then they will listen to what you have to say, even if they disagree with you.
A life well lived appears extraordinary to ordinary people. Take a risk for the kingdom, do something out of the ordinary, be courageous, be different—be a Jonathan and see what God will do!
Comments