MAN: Goodbook 11-19-13

I love how God works.  I've been meeting with a young man in high school.  Today we got on the topic of biblical manhood.  We just so happened to be reading in Acts 13 and came across one biblical example of what it means to be a man in the Bible.  I think these qualities would be a worthwhile pursuit for every person, no matter the gender.

We read about David (Acts 13:22, 36).  David was not perfect by any means.  Yet God transformed his life to the point where God said three things were true about David.  David was a man...

1) After God's own heart

2) Who would do everything God wants him to do

3) Served God's purpose in his own generation

This is the kind of man I desire to be: A man after God's own heart, a man who will do everything God wants me to do, and a man who serves God's purpose in my generation.

Imagine what could happen, what God could do, and how the world would be impacted if men made these three qualities their goals for life.  What if we made these our goals for life?  For a month?  For a week?

We could call it the David challenge!

How about we give it a try men?!?  Women can play too. :)  This week, we will actively live out these three qualities:

1) We will seek after God's own heart.  Through Bible reading, prayer, small group, worship, and conversation, we will seek to better understand God's heart for us and for the world - what God cares about, who God cares about, what God's passions and desires for our lives and our world are, how these passions and desires can be acted upon.

2) We will do whatever God wants us to do.  Just for a week (for starters), we will do everything we feel God wants us to do - whatever it is.  If you get a prompting or a nudge from God, act on it.  Don't think yourself into paralysis.  Just do it!  Obey.  Follow.  Act.

3) We will serve God's purpose in our generation.  We only have one life to live.  Our purpose in living is to serve God's purpose.  Reflect this week on how you - with all your unique talents, abilities, and resources - can best serve God's purposes in your lifetime.  How can you be a witness of God's saving love, grace, and power?  How can you bring heaven to earth and earth to heaven?

That's our challenge.  You may need to reflect on this every morning as your focus for the day.  Please share ideas, applications, stories, questions, struggles...