HHMM Update for Dec. 14, 2023

Hello Men of Harpeth Hills,

It’s been two weeks since our last communication. We have big news and some great inspiration from Raymond Wall.

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A Follow-up Word from Raymond Wall

We have been discussing our ‘Divine Identity and Purpose‘ in our evolving Men’s Ministry planning meetings. We believe that if we seek, He will reveal and confirm:

-Who we are and what is our identity now; and who he calls us to be and ‘claims us for’!

-What do we live for, and what purpose does He call us to exist for?

Regardless of what our culture, the media, or the world says about men, those around us will look to us in times of confusion and chaos. In concentric circles of influence, from the innermost rings working outward: Self, Family, Peers, World:

-We look in the mirror and dig deep to figure out ourselves; ‘Honestly, who am I? Who am I now, and Who do I want to become?’

-Our wives and children Look, Listen, and Learn, …to discern who we are and our true passion and purpose.

-Our classmates, neighbors, and coworkers also Look, Listen and Learn, …about who we are: when under duress and ‘when we think no one is looking.’

Specifically learning from Ephesians, we ask for The Spirit to open the eyes of our hearts as we dig in and mine his revealed word in Eph. 1:11-12.

The Message paraphrases it: 11 “In Christ, we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, 12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” (MSG)

The ESV reads: 11 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. “(ESV)

The Amplified ver. expresses: 11 “In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny–we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory. “(AMP)

Reviewing, selecting, and aggregating from these three translations, we can notice:
· Identity: ‘Find out who we are’ / ‘Obtain an inheritance’ / ‘a Destiny.’
· Purpose: ‘What we are living for’ / ‘Claimed by God, as his own’ / ‘According to [his] purpose.’
· Purpose: ‘The overall purpose he is working out’ / ‘the purpose of him who works all things- everything’ / ‘Working out in everything and everyone.’
· Purpose: ‘According to the counsel of his will’ / ‘Works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will.’
· Identity: ‘Designed for Glorious Living’ / ‘First to Hope in Christ’ / ‘Confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior.’
· Purpose: ‘Glorious Living’ / ‘Be or Exist to Praise His Glory.’

More on this line of thinking to come! Let’s encourage and build each other up …spurring each other on to good works!

Contact us and let us know (hhmm@harpethhills.org):
– What you think, what you see, what you face, and …
– How might we come alongside, pray with you, and offer to help?

We look forward to getting to know more of the Men at Harpeth Hills!

Raymond Wall