Living With PurposeSample

WHY WE NEED TO KNOW HIS PURPOSE FOR US

There is probably no discovery on earth more important than to know the purpose of your existence. As Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

We are all created for a specific purpose. We are uniquely designed and wired for certain roles and assignments. No two people are the same, and for every person, a unique destiny is outlined. The Psalmist wrote:

'My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.' (Psalms 139: 15&16, NIV)

Our fulfilment in life is tied to realizing and fulfilling our God-ordained purpose. It brings satisfaction that cannot be explained. Living your purpose makes life's challenges almost inconsequential. While on earth, Jesus Christ was busy going about the purpose for which He came. He ran into a Samaritan woman on a particular occasion, and a conversation ensued. Of course, He used the opportunity again to fulfill His God-ordained purpose. His disciples had gone searching for food, and when they brought it to Him, they wondered why He wasn't eager to eat. His response was stunning:

'But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about. "Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?". "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.' (John 4:32-34, NIV)

Can you imagine that? Living your purpose can virtually make you forget you haven't eaten. I can attest to that. God ensures that when we know why He sent us here, we derive satisfaction and meaning. Nobody should walk this earth without knowing with certainty why they are here. Knowing our assignment removes the guesswork and allows us to channel our resources wisely. For some of us, it's something grand and dramatic, while for others, it is something low-key (as we say these days) but equally fantastic. I call it fantastic because God's plans bring Him glory, and we get to share in it. The challenge we often face is that we hardly ever ask Him.

I suggest you take out time to ask Him what He would have you do with the talents, gifts, resources, and life He has blessed you with. He has a general assignment for all of us, His children, but also has specific assignments for each of us. So, we owe it to Him, our generation, and ourselves to ask: '“Lord, what do You want me to do?”' (Acts 9:6, NKJV)

Like Jeremiah, we can confess: 'I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.' (Jeremiah 10:23,NLT)