Truth: Identity & Purpose

It is 2021! Often at the start of the new year, I, like many others do a little reflecting and wonder about what the next year may bring and consider some of the changes I would personally like to see in the year ahead for myself. I think we also all like to have something to look forward to, something to motivate us to really live and experience life. Unfortunately we often find ourselves driven by the wrong things and can be easily deceived into pursuing things such as money, sex, possessions, food, the job promotion, a relationship. While all those things can be good and very good for that matter what is my purpose. What will really make 2021 the year of truly living to the fullest?!

Purpose. What is my purpose, what is your purpose? The Bible directs us many places throughout the scripture.

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul strength and mind. -Luke 10:27
• Love your neighbor. -Luke 10:27
• Love one another. -John 13:35
• Take up your cross daily and follow me. -Luke 9:23
• We are his workmanship, created in created in Christ Jesus for good works. -Ephesians 2:10
• So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – I Corinthians 10:13.

_{Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash}

Identity: As part of my story and others that struggle as I, I have found that I often fumble along with my masculinity and sexuality. It seems natural then that as I consider a new year ahead I would want to focus on that. 2021 – to honor God in my masculinity and sexuality. From the very start I was created by God to be a man. The very start – the egg and sperm; the sperm with a Y sex chromosome was the start of me that He knit together. Stan Newton is to be a man. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful I now that full well.” -Psalm 139:13-14. Certainly then it is logical that my identity as a man, the very first character trait of whom I was created to be is significant in His unique purposes for me.

Therefore, as I embark on the story for 2021; may I discover more fully how I am to glorify him as the man He created me to be. Loving others a man, taking up my cross as a man, doing good works as a man; ultimately whatever I may do…as a man for His glory.

Likewise may your 2021 story be an adventure for you to glorify Him in the identity He has formed you in. ~Stan