The Purpose of Life
I know; that's a pretty broad title and it could set up a whole series of posts. It's not going to. I simply wanted to remind you that, although life gets confusing at times and we have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to the various directions or activities that we will pursue, the basic purpose is still pretty simple.
The first in a series of messages I recently commenced at our church began with this challenge: Why are YOU here? What is your purpose for being on the planet? It may surprise you to realize that it is really the same purpose for which Jesus came to earth. He knew that purpose very early in life. The second chapter of Luke records the occasion when his family had traveled to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover for Jesus' Bar Mitzvah (he was 12). At the end of the feast, his parents returned with the caravan headed back toward Nazareth. Once they realized that Jesus was not with the group, they swiftly returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple with the religious leaders, asking and answering questions.
For the purpose of this post, let me just get the end of the account. When Mary chided Jesus for having caused them such distress, his response was simple. "Why did you seek me? Didn't you know that I must be (literally) in my Father's things?" Jesus hadn't been rebellious or discourteous to his parents. He was right where he belonged, doing just he was supposed to be doing. He was putting first things first.
At a later occasion, he told his disciples "my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." All of the activities of Jesus' life on earth (including his sacrificial death in our place) were the result of his basic purpose for being here: to carry out the will and plan of God in the world.
The same purpose is ours and it starts with putting first things first, just like Jesus did. "Seek first the kingdom of God..." "Set your mind on things that are above..."
There are a lot of things that demand our attention and our diligent effort. They all start with a wholehearted commitment to doing the will of God and seeking to carry out his plan and purpose through every part of our life.
It isn't easy, but it is pretty simple, right? Let's not forget to start in the right place and keep that as our central focus. This kind of thinking "sanctifies" even the most "secular" of jobs because it challenges us to use them as a means to carry out God's work in the world.
How will take advantage of your opportunities today to accomplish the work of God in the world? How will you influence someone to move them closer to the heart of God?
The first in a series of messages I recently commenced at our church began with this challenge: Why are YOU here? What is your purpose for being on the planet? It may surprise you to realize that it is really the same purpose for which Jesus came to earth. He knew that purpose very early in life. The second chapter of Luke records the occasion when his family had traveled to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover for Jesus' Bar Mitzvah (he was 12). At the end of the feast, his parents returned with the caravan headed back toward Nazareth. Once they realized that Jesus was not with the group, they swiftly returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple with the religious leaders, asking and answering questions.
For the purpose of this post, let me just get the end of the account. When Mary chided Jesus for having caused them such distress, his response was simple. "Why did you seek me? Didn't you know that I must be (literally) in my Father's things?" Jesus hadn't been rebellious or discourteous to his parents. He was right where he belonged, doing just he was supposed to be doing. He was putting first things first.
At a later occasion, he told his disciples "my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." All of the activities of Jesus' life on earth (including his sacrificial death in our place) were the result of his basic purpose for being here: to carry out the will and plan of God in the world.
The same purpose is ours and it starts with putting first things first, just like Jesus did. "Seek first the kingdom of God..." "Set your mind on things that are above..."
There are a lot of things that demand our attention and our diligent effort. They all start with a wholehearted commitment to doing the will of God and seeking to carry out his plan and purpose through every part of our life.
It isn't easy, but it is pretty simple, right? Let's not forget to start in the right place and keep that as our central focus. This kind of thinking "sanctifies" even the most "secular" of jobs because it challenges us to use them as a means to carry out God's work in the world.
How will take advantage of your opportunities today to accomplish the work of God in the world? How will you influence someone to move them closer to the heart of God?
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