6 Words That Will Change Your LifeSample

I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a preacher someday. But God took me on a circuitous journey to get there. In my twenties, I spent seven years roofing houses.  

My roofing bosses—two brothers who owned the company —were wise and godly Christian men. They told every employee that whether or not they believed in Jesus, they needed to know that the company roofed every job for the glory of God. We were all expected to work like each and every roof belonged to Christ Himself.  

But I was frustrated that my preacher ambitions hadn’t come to fruition. My attitude and actions made it clear that I didn’t want to be dragging shingles around on a hot roof. I wanted to be in front of an adoring church preaching God’s Word.  

One day, one of the owners pulled me aside for a candid conversation. “Greg,” he said, “I believe God has given you a gift for preaching, and I believe that someday He will provide a way for you to use that gift with excellence. But right now, God has given you a job as a roofer. And you need to get serious about roofing with excellence, for the glory of God.  I know He’s calling you to be a preacher someday. But He’s calling you to be a roofer today.” 

“Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salute.”  This Latin phrase from St. Ignatius translates: “For the greater glory of God and salvation of humanity.” I strive to live by this ancient maxim and have taken it on as my “life motto.” I call it AMDG, for short.  

Our motivation for living a meaningful Christian life should be birthed out of a deep desire to bring God glory and to see people transformed by the power of the gospel.  

Sometimes our motivations get muddy. We become self-seeking and reduce the Christian life to a quest for “feeling good” about ourselves, or “managing” our sin well so that we don’t end up in messy or uncomfortable life circumstances. We slip into seeking God’s hand, instead of seeking His heart.  

These ulterior motives can sap the vibrancy out of our relationship with Jesus. 

God’s glory and the salvation of humanity should drive everything we do. 

Here are three steps to help you refocus your life around AMDG: 

1. Seek. Prayerfully examine your heart. Honestly, assess how you are doing when it comes to living the AMDG life. 
2. Share. Talk to a trusted friend about your assessment; share challenges and hopes to become more God-honoring and gospel-advancing. Ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable. 
3. Cling.  Lean on the presence and power of Christ. Learn to walk moment by moment in utter dependence on the Spirit who dwells within you, so you can see your world through His eyes and walk in His strength.