Live on Purpose

I was probably around 8 years old. At that point, baseball was my life. I absolutely loved it. My favorite team was the Atlanta Braves and my favorite player was Dale Murphy. That’s right, some of you remember!! Anyway, this team was the best. I knew their positions, the batting order, I literally watched them every day. At the time, the Brave’s third baseman was Bob Horner. Bob was a powerful hitter and a decent third baseman but the most vivid memory I have of him is that he always had a big ole chew of tobacco in his right cheek. I mean huge! Now, I have no idea why, but i thought that was the coolest thing. That is what a baseball player is supposed to look like. Chew. Spit. Hit home-runs. A few years later, I had the chance to put a chew in my mouth and I remember thinking, heck yes. I’m Bob Horner! So around 10 years old, a friend gave me his dad’s pouch of Red Man Chewing Tobacco and I put it in and started to chew. Most of you know where this story is going already. It probably took about thirty seconds for the first juices to hit my stomach and after that I became violently ill and spent the next few minutes throwing up more than what I had ingested! Needless to say, I never desired to chew again. But Bob Horner had had an effect on me and he never knew it.

I tell you that story just to remind you today that we ALL have someone watching us. Whether you know it or not, whether you want it or not, you are LEADING SOMEONE.

SO…what we do matters. What we say matters. Our habits matter. Someone is watching. It could be your kids. Or any kid in your life. It could be your spouse. It most definitely is your co-workers or classmates. If you are a Christ-follower, those who aren’t Christ-followers are watching you. Eyes are on you. Period. So how you live and ultimately how you lead those watching completely matters. We don’t get to say, “I didn’t ask for it” or “I’m not a role model.” YES YOU ARE!

Now, I am not a leadership expert. I read a lot of guys that are and listen to podcasts. But this post and maybe a few to follow will be less about leadership principles and more about recognizing who and how we lead in a practical sense.

Today, I simply want to leave you with this.

Great leaders pray for those they lead.

Pray for you children. Pray for your co-workers. Intercede for them. Pray for their salvation. Pray for their relationship with God. So often we go to God and give Him our wants and our lists and our needs but we fail to intercede for those who are watching us. We fail to lift them up to the Lord. We are often so self-centered that we don’t pray with the proper perspective. How does my prayer life impact others? How does my prayer life impact eternity?

Great leaders pray with perspective.

Acknowledge that you have people watching you and then give them back to God. Yes, your children have been entrusted to you, but ultimately they are still God’s. So pray that way.

In the few posts that will follow, I want to look at Moses and his leadership. One thing that I will tell you about it is that he was a work in progress, BUT he realized his leadership and influence mattered in the life of God’s people. He prayed for them. He interceded for them. He fought ON HIS KNEES for them. What he prayed and how he prayed mattered!

So, today, spend some time thinking (maybe write it down) about those you influence and lead in your daily life. How are you leading them? Are you praying for them? Are you fighting for them on your knees?

This is purpose! This is part of what you were created and saved for! Take it seriously.

LIVE ON PURPOSE!

Kevin