Great Pursuits: Chasing What Matters Most in LifeSample

Pursue Purpose

God’s work with you doesn’t stop with salvation. That is only the beginning. He has work for you to do on this earth – good work that He has prepared beforehand to be the employment of your life. 

Ephesians 2:8–10 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” 

Beforehand refers to before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). You are not on earth at this time by accident. You are not reading these words by accident. God planned for you to be here and He has a pre-ordained purpose for your life. You count! You have a destiny to fulfill and a purpose to pursue.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:12–14, “I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The phrases I press on in verse 12 and I press toward in verse 14 are a translation of the same Greek word for “pursue.” It is the same word used to command us to pursue peace, the knowledge of God, love, righteousness, faith, and patience.

What was Paul’s great pursuit? He was pursuing and trying to lay hold of the purpose for which Christ had laid hold of him! It is a progressive revelation – one that will continually unfold throughout your lifetime – and no one ever fully arrives. However, you can discern and lay hold of God’s purpose for and in you during the particular season that you are in. There is a prize waiting in heaven for those that press in and pursue the purpose of God for their lives.

You don’t need to be concerned for your whole journey of faith, just for the step right in front of you. Perhaps you might consider taking a moment now to seek the Lord. Dare to ask Him what His next step is for your life so you can discover and pursue your own unique purpose in the kingdom.

Action Step

Before wading into the specifics of God’s call on your life, first invite God into the journey. Tell God that your heart’s desire is to live out His purpose for your life. Then ask Him to lead you in the journey of discovering that purpose.

Continue the pursuit you’ve been on these past seven days and find out more in Bayless Conley’s, GREAT PURSUITS: Chasing What Matters Most in Life.