With Right Purpose

With Right Purpose 

by David Brenneman 

Most have read or at least might have heard of the book "Purpose Driven Life". 

This isn't a review of that book.  It's just there as a means to point out that whether in Christianity or outside of it people are looking for a purpose to living life. 

In Christ, the right purpose is to do the will of the Father in us and through us.  It's not about promoting self.  It's not about becoming what we think is what we ought to be.  It's not about us when we consider denying ourselves, taking up our own cross, and following Jesus. 

We are promised troubles in this life. 

We are going to have to deal with obstinate, difficult, people.  We are going to have critical people pointing out this or that about us.  We may even have a season of life where it seems never ending. 

If God's allowing it, find God's purpose in it.  Don't give up and hide. Don't pursue other things in life that you think would take care of that.  Seek first what?  His Kingdom and His righteousness. 

Our right purpose is found when we acknowledge His Lordship in our lives. 

Our right purpose is found when we are at the center of God's will for us.

When we give an account of our lives, thoughts and intentions will be revealed. 

Consider Mark chapter 2 when Jesus reads the minds of His critics and says out loud what they were thinking and has an answer for them.  Their very thoughts and intentions were revealed. THAT was what they were amazed at probably moreso than the man being healed. 

God knows your thoughts and your intentions at all times.  Confession is our acknowledging what He already knows. 

Our world wants to promote self in every way imaginable.  We read in the Bible that in the last days people will be lovers of self.  In the Church and outside of the Church.  When we focus on self we aren't looking at Jesus.  When we focus on the rear view mirror we run into things in front of us because we are always moving. 

When you look at your life today are you living out Christ in you or you in you?  Only one will will be done on Earth. 

Are you hiding out under what amounts to something that's all well and good on the surface because it's safe to you?  Are you trying to stay off the road of life because of the hazards between you and Heavens door?  Some do.  They are more afraid of what God MIGHT ask of them rather than to ask Him to find out. So they never get into their Bible, never seek to serve, never spend much time in prayer.  Some do Christianity on their own terms.  They may read their Bible, may pray, but pick n choose what's comfortable to them rather than what the Spirit is calling them to be an to do. Some have let the hurts of the past dictate their present in that they walked away from their calling. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB. 

Many say they do but most of the time, if they are honest, begin with "But God...you saw what happened!".

Some have allowed the will of others to derail their walk with Jesus.  Having traded His purpose for their purpose. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness wasn't a suggestion. 

Taking up our own cross and following Jesus wasn't a suggestion or just a good idea. 

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God wasn't a suggestion either.  

When the road of life looks complicated or difficult, spend more time in prayer rather than less.  

When we are tempted to go the easy safe way rather than God's way...beware...troubles will still find you. 

Our identity as Christians is bound up in Christ Jesus, not in our given names on Earth.  We aren't here for ourselves our purpose is two-fold. To live out life in Christ, becoming more like Christ, and to participate in doing our part in the body of Christ as assigned by the Spirit of God.  Everything else is to come after that. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself.  

Our character should reflect Jesus to a lost world.  Our life should be a reflection of His light.  It's also probably going to hurt at times.  But as Paul was told so are we told.  His grace is sufficient for power is perfected in weakness.  

You purpose and mine is the same in Christ Jesus.  If you haven't come to Christ for salvation yet, yours is to come to Christ and find what you have been missing, what you have been seeking all your life. 

Our own understanding gets in the way all the time.  We don't know what God knows. 

We will deceive ourselves because we can due to our sin nature.  We will try to skate through this life as safely as we can.

When you look at your life do you see the character of Jesus?  Or do you see your own success story?  

This will tell you if you are living your right purpose in life.