3:23 Legacy Explained

In the Holy Bible, the book of Colossians, chapter 3, verse 23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (NIV84)

This verse has always been close to me. I’ve always tried to live my life by it. It’s a verse that applies to every aspect of one’s life. It tells us that in everything we do, we are to perform with excellence, that God expects our absolute best. In a nutshell, that is what 3:23 Legacy is about. It’s about always giving your best so that at the end of your life you leave a legacy of having put your whole heart into everything you’ve done in life. It’s about hearing the Lord say “well done good and faithful servant.”

Hot, Cold and Lukewarm

Just over 25 years ago God began a work in me. He called me to be one of His chosen ones. He quickened my spirit to life and gifted me, undeservingly, with the faith to respond “Yes, Lord!” For many years after my conversion I worked with the Spirit on my sanctification. I learned much about my Lord and grew in the faith. These early years were pivotal in my Christian life. I asked questions of friends, clergy and of God. I searched deep within His Word to learn timeless truths and I did not deter until I found them. This foundation has held me strong throughout the years, but it is not enough.

Back in June my wife, Kristin, and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. For our anniversary I wrote her a love letter, one of only a handful that I’ve written her during our marriage. In that letter I admitted to her that I had failed her as spiritual leader of our family and I vowed to courageously lead our family going forward. I promised not to let the next 14 years go by with regrets of what could have been had I listened to and heeded God’s call. In reality, I’d come to this stark realization about three months earlier. Over the course of our marriage I had allowed my relationship with my Lord to deteriorate. My priorities had gotten all out of order. I was allowing the world and the pressures of life to toss me about. I was stressed and in need of redirection. I had grieved the Holy Spirit and it was time to change, to stop fighting and surrender once again to His leading.

A Turning Point

Change. It doesn’t come easy. I surrendered. I started doing things differently, slowly, being careful not to tell anyone lest I fail and be on display as a failure. I began talking with God again, reading His Word again. I started focusing on my wife’s needs and my families’ needs more, devoting my time to them instead of to my own desires and hobbies. I began having a different perspective on life at home and at work, though admittedly it’s been more of a gradual process at work. In short, I began working with the Holy Spirit to continue what He had begun in me some 25 years prior. Afterall, I had been chosen of God, called to be set apart, and it was time to turn and answer the call.

The High Calling

What is my calling? It is the same as every Christian: to serve God. There is no greater call in life than to serve the Lord. How am I called to serve? Am I supposed to be a pastor? A missionary? No, I have not been called into full-time ministry or to the mission field in a foreign country. When people think of a calling their minds usually conjure up something along these lines, but that is not who God made me to be. So, what then? Who am I and what am I called to do?

I am a husband, a father, a son, a friend, an employee, a manager, a teacher, a neighbor, and, to most people, a stranger. These are some, but not all of the rolls I have in life. My calling, the way I am to serve Jesus Christ in this life, is to be a representation of Him to others in all these rolls. I am called to be His hands and feet to those I encounter in life. This is the task at hand. This is my high calling.

The Right Tools For The Job

When starting a task you first need to gather the necessary tools. The right tools can make any job easier. The primary purpose of this blog, its sole purpose, is to be one of the tools that I use to stay focused on my calling of being Jesus to others. That is the goal. That is why the 3:23 Legacy blog exists. When you share your goals with others you gain accountability towards reaching those goals in return. Knowing that I will be blogging about my life experiences will help me better stay focused at always portraying the likeness of Jesus to others. It’s a very tall order. I’m not ashamed to admit I need all the help I can get.

There’s More

By now you might be wondering, with all this religious talk, is that all I’m going to be blogging about? The simple answer is, no. I will be posting on a variety of topics. If the blog is intended to help keep my thoughts on my calling in everything I do, I should write about everything I do. Some of the hobbies, interests and past-times which you can expect me to post about include: watching movies, reading books, video games, poker, art projects and DIY projects. These are not religious topics, so when I approach each of them it’ll be with the perspectives of 1) “How can I do them with excellence?” and 2) “How can I represent Christ in each of them?” Living for Christ in a world and culture that is against Him is not an easy task. It is a subject that I intend to explore as I post on some of these topics. So, stay tuned and, please, participate by leaving your comments below. I look forward to sharing the journey with you.