day 7 - A PURPOSE GREATER THAN SELF
By: Hunter Backues
A common question or concern from people of all ages is that of purpose. The constant day to day grind can weigh on the mind, body and spirit. We can find ourselves weighted down with focusing on “OUR” lives, and theres nothing wrong with doing things for yourself but I wonder what might change in our minds if we didn’t focus so much on “WHAT” we were living for and more on ”WHO” we were living for. Im talking about selflessness….I want to talk about a man who demonstrated by his action life of sacrifice and selflessness.
John the Baptist was a man who understood his assignment. He understood the life he was to live would not be for personal gain. He knew he was born for a single and selfless purpose
Luke 1:13-17
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mark 1:2-3
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John’s entire purpose since before he ever came into this world was to live a life for someone other than himself. Everything he did was turn the attention from himself and toward the someone who is Jesus Christ but John would never live to see the result of his sacrifice…..would you live your life for something that you would never see fulfilled?
John’s life, much like the life of Jesus, was one of living for someone else. John lived to make way for Christ, Jesus lived so that the sins of humanity could be forgiven.
John’s life of sacrifice is mirrored by Jesus’s sacrifice of life both greater than themselves and both the two greatest definitions of selflessness.