"GOD'S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE"

1 Peter 4: 11;  Psalm 113: 2-3;  Matthew 28: 19-20

 

What is "God's Purpose For Our Life" as followers of Jesus Christ?  "Is it salvation?" "Is it blessing?"  "Is it joy, peace, and contentment?"  Must we believe that Jesus Christ gave the church it purpose in Matthew 28: 19-20:  "..go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  Well, one could make a strong case that all these activities are God's purpose for us.  And I agree; but the question,  what is God's purpose,  the one purpose that stands out above all others,  for my life.

 

I can't speak for you, but I am convinced that "God's Purpose For My Life" - to lead people to a life of faith in Christ and to a life of full devotion to Christ.  I interpret the Bible to say there is only one perfect role model.  That one perfect role model is Jesus Christ.  Let me call to your attention John 13: 2-6.  Thirteen men are gathered for a meal - one of them, Jesus, the leader of the group girds himself with a towel and begins to wash the other men's feet.  They are horrified.

 

This is not the way a role model is supposed to act - not in the secular world.  In the secular world a leader is one who is served, not one who serves.  Could that be what is wrong with our world today?  Leader's don't know how to serve.  Could that be what is wrong in department stores - the reason service  is so bad.  The manager does not know how to set an example.

 

We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will  lead us to great success.  We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God's purpose for us.  In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite.  The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance,  and reaching it become merely an episode along the way.  What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.

 

What is my vision of God's purpose for me?  Whatever it may be,  His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now.  If I can stay calm,  faithful,  and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life,  the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me.  God is not working toward a particular finish - His purpose is the process itself.  What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore,  no success, nor goal in sight,  but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea" (Mark 6:49).  It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

 

God's training is for now, not later.  His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future.  We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience,  and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it.  What we people call preparation,  God sees as the goal itself.

 

God's purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of life right now.  If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time.  However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.

 

If you are going to choose Jesus as role model, you're going to learn what it is to serve.  If you choose Jesus as role model, you're going to wrap a towel around your waist and wash the feet of others.  Now, I ask of you; “What is God’s Purpose for Your Life?”

          [I would like to hear your testimonial]

 

><))):>  In "HIS" Service  
                 Bro. Roy