What are we supposed to do with our lives?
That is a question that has pestered men and women for thousands of years.
If you really sit down and think about it the answer should be simple but it’s not.
How we answer the question of purpose shapes how we live. When life becomes only about achievement, status, or control, it often leaves us exhausted, disappointed, and competing with others instead of loving them. If life isn’t just survival and self-interest, then we have to ask who gets to define our purpose?
If you look at life from a totally human perspective, then the answer is quite easy. Conquer and control everything—relationships, business, culture, even the world. That becomes a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. That mindset can leave us exhausted and discouraged because eventually we realize we aren’t the strongest, smartest, most successful, or most admired. Too often, we take that frustration out on ourselves and those around us.
What if there’s another way? What if there’s something deeper than just our own primal desires? Often, we don’t take time to sit down, reflect, and ask what we’re really supposed to be doing.
Because this is just a blog and not a book, let me share with you a different perspective. What I’m talking about is a perspective looking through the lens of God, a creator, the creator of you, the creator of me the creator of everything that we deal with and live with. God the Father didn’t just give us rules to follow—He gave us Jesus to show us what life with Him looks like. Jesus spent a little over 30 years of his life showing us that there’s more to life than just our primal instincts. He shows us a roadmap of life. First, He shows us how to spend eternity in heaven with God versus an eternity without God. Second, He gives us a picture of how life on earth can be lived with purpose, fulfillment, and obedience to God.
The Bible is filled with history and insight when it comes to the life of Jesus. One of the clearest things we see—especially in the final three years of His ministry—is that Jesus invested in people. He mentored. He handpicked 12 ordinary guys—and honestly, if I had been choosing, I probably would’ve picked differently. Yet Jesus changed the world through ordinary people.
I meet with a group of guys early every Wednesday morning at a restaurant around a cup of coffee, a Diet Coke, and even a breakfast sandwich and I want to spend the summer talking about how we invest in the people God has placed directly in our lives.
In the Bible, the book of Matthew chapter 28, as Jesus’ time here in his earthly form was coming to an end he gave us disciples a charge. Jesus didn’t tell us to collect followers, gain influence, or simply live comfortably. He told us to make disciples
So what does this have to do with what we are supposed to do with our lives?
First, as Christ followers, we are called to tell others who Jesus is and what He’s about. Discipleship isn’t just something pastors do—it’s the normal Christian life.
Secondly, we are to live with purpose. That’s what I want to touch on today.
The real question isn’t how we make an impact in our culture and among those around us—it’s how we make the right impact. We will make an impact whether it’s negative or one that is positive. So how do we make the right impact?
Author Regi Campbell wrote “Jesus is one of the most admired figures in all of human history. A majority of Americans admire Jesus, whether they believe that He was God’s Son or not. Almost no one will say anything bad about Jesus. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists. Everyone thinks well of Jesus. Why?… He lived a somewhat normal life as a child and then became a significant historical and religious figure in the last three years of His life.”
As we go through this summer, I want us to discover that influence isn’t measured by how many people know us—it’s measured by how faithfully we invest in those God has placed around us. I want to highlight 11 things that will impact us not just in our lives, but in our influence as we mentor those around us.
So the questions for this week, then are these…
Who has God already placed in your path?
Do you feel the desire to mentor anyone?
How do you pick someone to mentor?
Are you paying attention for anyone around you that needs mentoring?
I’m looking forward to our discussion Wednesday.
Have a great day!
Bryan
ETHOS 4 LIFE 