I have been thinking long and deep about purpose…….again. The more I think about it the more I believe that purpose is more about being than about doing. It is more about WHO we are than WHAT we do.
We should all be agreed that God the Father predestined our purpose for living. After all, it is stated plainly in His Word.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (Eph. 1:11)
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. (Ps. 139:16)
Many Christian writers have sought to point us towards finding out our purpose using various acronyms.
Spiritual gifts, Talents, Abilities, Giftings, Experiences, Skills (S-T-A-G-E-S)
Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience (S-H-A-P-E)
Talents, Abilities, Giftings, Skills (T-A-G-S)
These are things that God has given to us. Everyone has been given these but not everyone fulfils God’s purpose. How we use them and who we are as we use them is the missing component.
Many Christians worry about not achieving their purpose. Even if they don’t say it out loud they are constantly wondering, “Am I walking in my purpose?”, “How do I know that I am in God’s purpose?” They are in constant fear of missing out on God’s purpose for their lives. I know because I was one of those people. But the Lord gave me a different perspective on my purpose and it freed me from the fear of ever missing His purpose for my life.
It’s His purpose not mine. You cannot imagine how much freedom this revelation has given to me. I no longer run around looking for my purpose, searching for it as though it was lost. Father God has already established my life’s journey. Therefore, He has a vested interest in its fulfilment. If He took the time to write down your purpose before you were even born don’t you think that He would also make provision for its achievement? David had this revelation in Psalms 23.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Ps. 23:3)
And like David, I must declare, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (Ps. 139:6)
Because God has a vested interest in you achieving your purpose, He has also made every provision for its fulfilment.
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Pet. 1:3)
Whatever our purpose, it is to bring glory and honour to God. Therefore, He is going to partner with you in achieving it if you allow Him to. So, the first thing we must BE to achieve our purpose is BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
God wants to lead us but we have to BE WILLING FOLLOWERS. He has given us the freedom to choose.
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, of the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Jos. 24:15)
Having chosen the Lord’s gift of salvation we cannot leave it there and go on automatic pilot.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (Phil. 2:12)
How do we “work out our salvation”? Romans 12:1 says we need to BE LIVING SACRIFICES. This is our reasonable service or act of worship. We have to lay aside our own will and surrender totally to God. BE WORSHIPPERS OF GOD.
Another being is to BE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. We must seek to be led by the Holy Spirit.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom. 8:14
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (Isa. 30:21)
So he answered and said to me. “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, (Zec. 4:6)
How do you become empowered by the Holy Spirit? When you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour the Holy Spirit took up residence in your spirit. You, therefore, have power within from that decision to surrender your own will. There is another level of power that comes through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This gives us power to BE WITNESSES.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
A witness testifies of what he/she has seen and heard and experienced.
Another important aspect of being is to BE A LISTENER. To be listeners we must be quiet. This is a great revelation to many people J. We have the ability to multitask but this is not one of the areas where multitasking is possible. Try it if you don’t believe me. You cannot be talking and listening at the same time. The Holy Spirit leads us with a “still small voice”. Therefore, you must be willing to spend times being still and quiet in His presence if you are going to hear what He says. Prayer is two-way communication. You talk to Him (pray) and you must also give Him time to speak to you. Many times He speaks to us about who He needs us to become rather than what He needs us to do.
Another way God speaks to us is through His Word.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)
BE WILLING TO SPEND TIME IN GOD’S WORD. The word is both ‘logos’ and ‘rhema’. There are verses that will be quickened to you by the Holy Spirit as you read, which is another way you know what God requires of you. Again, most times we are being told who He requires us to be and not what He requires us to do.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (1 Cor. 13:1)
BE LOVERS. We are commanded to be lovers of God and lovers of others.
‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12:30-31)
Trust me, you cannot do what God requires until you become who God requires you to be. As we determine to be all that God requires, we will have no choice but to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Therefore, BE WILLING TO TRUST IN HIM.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Of if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11:9-13)
Father God cares for us with loving kindness and tender mercies (Ps. 25:6). As we seek to become all that He requires us to become His pathways will become clear to us (Ps. 25:4-6). Our prayer must be, “Lord let me know Your ways so I can understand and perform Your works.”
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. (Ps. 119:27)
You will be walking in His purpose without even realizing it. To be all that God requires you to be is to fulfil His purpose. He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). He is after the image of Christ to be manifested in our lives (Eph. 4:13). Yes, it will involve works. We are His workmanship created for good works (Eph. 2:10). But the good works cannot come unless we first become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Fruit first then gifts. That is the order of priority in God’s kingdom.
So, stop worrying about God’s purpose being fulfilled in your life. Keep your eyes stayed on Him and He will grant you His peace. Learn to BE AT REST IN HIM.
Meditate on Matthew 11:28-30; Psalms 127:2; Isaiah 30:15; Hebrews 4:3a; and Hebrews 4:9-11.
His will be done, His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
Shalom.