Awaken The Sleeper!
Digging Deeper
Find Purpose
The Bible describes each person’s purpose as having both universal and individual dimensions. All of these combine to give intentionality to God’s plan for each person, allowing for His will to be done through the uniqueness each person brings. You are designed to do what only you can do in a way only you can do it.
Your most basic purpose is to know and to glorify God. This purpose not only becomes the foundation of your earthly works as a believer, but it extends into the eternal role assigned to you in heaven. You are called to know God, to love God and to walk in unity with God. Psalms 139:13-14 declares of God: “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.” Extending this to eternity, your communion with God is described in John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
You are called to love God and to love one another. Jesus instructed “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind … Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 Your purpose was prepared for you, in Christ, to reveal a life aligned with God’s design. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Different people have fundamentally different roles and purposes in God’s plan. Throughout the Bible you can see examples of this:
Moses: Called to deliver Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3:10)
Bezalel: Specifically filled with skill to craft the tabernacle (Exodus 31:2-5)
David: Chosen to be king and "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22)
Esther: Positioned "for such a time as this" to save her people (Esther 4:14)
John the Baptist: Born to "prepare the way for the Lord" (Luke 1:76-77)
Mary: Chosen to bear the Messiah (Luke 1:30-31)
You have been given a unique purpose as well. Your personality, your skills and passions, your strengths and weaknesses, your life experience and your current circumstances are gifts that all converge to grant you a unique purpose in God’s plan. Do not become anxious about finding some hidden role for your life. Instead, simply do what the Lord puts in front of you to do and trust the Holy Spirit to guide your footsteps as you walk with the Lord. As you walk with Him, He will progressively reveal and confirm your specific calling, even as it may change in different seasons of your life.
One of those things God has prepared in advance for all believers to do is to: “Go and make disciples … teaching them to obey all I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 Living out your faith day by day delivers a powerful witness to all you encounter. Whether by word, conduct or suffering, you are meant to point others beyond themselves to the redemptive grace of Christ Jesus. As John15:16 points out: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit – fruit that would last.”
Regardless of the opportunities He places in front of you, know He is equipping you as you obey. Every vocation, gift, and season of life yields its meaning through faith. Suffering and hard times prepare us for specific use. Give thanks to “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 God’s work in us is designed to be passed on to others, so that in turn, they can do the same.
Yet, your purpose to walk closely with the Lord as you submit to His will, to steward your gifts faithfully, and to trust Him to guide you continuously transforms you into the image of Christ. Romans 8:28-29 promises: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Philippians 1:6 further assures that “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” What wonderful reasons to endure and persevere regardless of any worldly discomfort!
What a wonderful purpose to be transformed into the likeness of Christ!
Are you living in God’s purpose for your life?
Someone’s eternity depends on it!
Awaken the sleeper!