09/01/2020
We each have purposes that we have established for our lives, and as we go through our days we discover and grasp hold of them. Some have been given to us by the world, some by our families, others we have established for ourselves, but none can compare with the purpose that God lays before us when we search out His will and answer His call. Today we will dedicate our time to one or more of these, but which will we allot our time to, and is it the most precious one... the one that above all others we must finish; that must be fulfilled in our lifetime?
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 ESV
Like each of you I have many springs, trickles, streams, and a mighty river that flows from the Mountains, hills, and through the pastures and valleys of my life. Each one of them I have looked upon at some point as being the grand purpose for my life. When I was born I focused on my parents and my birth family; loving and serving them was what I considered my purpose. Then, as I aged, other “purposes” arose such as graduating from school, finding a job, earning a living, becoming self-sufficient, loving a wife, marriage, rearing our children, and finding happiness. At one time or the other each of these felt like my great purpose... but, although important, they were not the one thing that served as the defining, and foundational purpose for my life... then my eyes were wonderfully opened to Jesus Christ, and looking at every event that had comprised my life, I saw him in each and every one of them. I met God, and when through my faith, and prayer, I uncovered His will for me, I also found the one true purpose in my life that everything else rested upon... I found the mountain from which the waters of my life originated, and the sea that it ultimately flowed into. I found God’s purpose in my life, and realized it was more than just His... it was also my purpose.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV
There are many things we pursue in life, but only a few that a person will consider important enough to give up his earthly life for, things such as family, friends, or perhaps some grand cause like freedom, but in the end there is only one that stands out above all the rest, and that is worth sacrificing everything for; even eternity. This one thing is more valuable than all the others we consider “purposes” of life, and for it we would give all we have, and forfeit every love, and purpose, for it... it is the Love of God.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
Psalm 57:2 ESV
So as we we pursue God, and the one true purpose which He has established for our lives, we often fear that we might not be strong enough, smart enough, or wise enough, to be able to do what we have been tasked to do, so we fret, and pray that God will give us the ability, and He is faithful in providing us with what is required to do His will...
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””
Matthew 19:26 ESV
Then, leaning on our faith, and His promises to provide, we go about doing His will, and He opens every door for us. Our lives unfold before us, and we continue to serve Him all our days, but our days grow short as time passes, and we see that there is more to be done. So we become desperate once more, and we pray prayers that are similar to the one we opened with...
“... if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 ESV
And, we discover yet another amazing truth... God, like His will, is infinite, and although we felt that His purpose for us had a beginning and end in our lifetime, it had neither. We are like relay racers who receive the baton in the middle of the race, and are meant to pass it off before the race is won... our goal is to run, and complete our best laps, but the race is much longer, and stretches much further, than we could have ever imagined. In this way we should be comforted in having run our best, and having served the Lord for the time He saw fit... achieving just enough of His will that we have satisfied His purpose for us, and heard Him voice His pleasure in us. This is our purpose in life, and in this God receives the victory, and the glory.
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Psalm 90:1-2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your will, and purpose in our lives. Thank you Father for your Son Jesus who sends us forth to do that will, and for your Holy Spirit who serves as our guide in achieving your purpose for us. Help us Lord as we travel through this lifetime doing our small part in your greater eternal purpose, and for allowing it to be the focus our lives. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who’s will infuses every event In our lives, each moment, and all the love we come to know in this our earthly life. We praise your name in every victory, no matter how small, that we achieve for you, and we sing out in faith and joy when you are walking with us through the setbacks, and the hardships we encounter. Great are you our God who is merciful, and whose grace flows over us during our most difficult challenges of faith. We worship you Lord, and yearn for lives that are long, and in which we are allowed to see the purpose you have for us as it reaches maturity. This is your day, and if you choose it to be our last we only hope that you will be pleased with our efforts, and will seat us at your table forevermore.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
Rich Forbes