Knowing Purpose
Below are comments by Dr. Jack Allen in a newsletter he sent out to his contributors. He has some good insights.
We commemorate the saddest and happiest days during the same week every year. The Day of the Cross and The Day of Resurrection when Jesus redefined life. He completed His task against all odds because He knew His purpose. He taught us that finding ultimate success depends not at all on money or education, but on sacrificing one's personal comfort to the Father's will. Easter reminds us that knowing what one is supposed to do (purpose) can get him or her through the darkest day. It seems that most of Christ's followers have no clue as to their purpose, and opt instead for mediocrity.
Not too sure about that? OK, take a quick test: in your opinion, considering all the Christians you know, how many live either defeated lives, mediocre lives, or victorious lives? Let's define "victorious" as: relative freedom from anxiety; freedom from substance abuse (including alcohol, drugs, sex, materialism, and gluttony); and freedom from the negative tendency to let someone else spread the Gospel.
One of my classes recently concluded that only 3 percent of the Christians they know can be observed to live victorious lives. Three percent on Victory Lane, that's it. At least, that's what we figured. We estimated that 10 percent of all Christians live defeated lives, and the rest (a whopping 87 percent) live in mediocrity. Lukewarm, on plateau, declining, purposeless, yuck. Sounds like . . . failure.
In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow tells Dorothy that it makes no difference which road she's on because she does not know where she's going. Life without purpose is like traveling a road without knowing your destination. Yogi Berra, a relatively intelligent catcher for the Yankees, once said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else." I could not agree more.
Jesus gave humans a clear purpose: love God and love people (Mk 12:29-31). How exactly does one do that? Can't I just as easily love God and people by mowing grass, building houses, fixing cars, clerking at a grocery store, teaching school, starting churches, selling cars, or just about anything else that's legal and moral. Maybe I need some refinement.
It might help to ask yourself where you want to go. More important, where does God want to take you? Someplace boring or exciting? Someplace fast or relaxed? Edgy or safe? The end of the earth or the end of the block? Let me give you four things to think about while you're trying to decide.
Leading.What draws you? What makes you think, "That's me"? For now, let's assume that God put that leading in you. Get advice and follow it. See if God's develops a passion for it.
Passion.What gets your heart pumping? What task causes you to sit on the edge of your chair when you tell others about it? What would you do even if no one paid you to do it? It's fairly normal that if you get really good at something about which you are passionate, someone will pay you to do it. We can call passion your hearts desire. The Bible indicates that if you follow God closely, He will give you your heart's desire (Ps 37:4). He will also confirm whether or not your passion is from Him.
Confirmation.Start reading the Bible anticipating that God will give you a verse, a passage, or a story that confirms your leading and passion. It's very important that you get advice from a someone who has a good track record making wise decisions. You may consult parents, your Pastor, or a trusted teacher. There will be someone in your life--a leader that God gave you as a blessing. Once you find a biblical confirmation and your advisors confirm your understanding of it, memorize it. Then let God's Word build your faith.
Faith. Faith is what we need when we start second guessing our purpose (Heb 11:1). Most days, you and I need to remember that God's word settles our second-guessing and fears of failure. Like Abraham (Genesis 11-26), we just need to start off in a general direction doing what we've been told to do. If you're a preacher who can't get a church to preach to, start a new Sunday School class or a Bible study group with your neighbors. If God told you to create art, but you have no canvas, draw on cardboard. Do something. My wife, who is often smarter than me, notices that Bible heroes are usually doing their best to obey God while working at something--then God gives them a special assignment. Be productive and have faith that God will send you an assignment. That's the story of Noah, Moses, Jonah, Peter, Paul, John and a few others best I can tell.
With those four thoughts in your pocket, you should be set to find your God-given purpose. Once you know God's purpose for your life, it's time to make a big decision. Ask yourself, "will I trust God, or will I go my own way." If you trust God, you will be headed for success.
We commemorate the saddest and happiest days during the same week every year. The Day of the Cross and The Day of Resurrection when Jesus redefined life. He completed His task against all odds because He knew His purpose. He taught us that finding ultimate success depends not at all on money or education, but on sacrificing one's personal comfort to the Father's will. Easter reminds us that knowing what one is supposed to do (purpose) can get him or her through the darkest day. It seems that most of Christ's followers have no clue as to their purpose, and opt instead for mediocrity.
Not too sure about that? OK, take a quick test: in your opinion, considering all the Christians you know, how many live either defeated lives, mediocre lives, or victorious lives? Let's define "victorious" as: relative freedom from anxiety; freedom from substance abuse (including alcohol, drugs, sex, materialism, and gluttony); and freedom from the negative tendency to let someone else spread the Gospel.
One of my classes recently concluded that only 3 percent of the Christians they know can be observed to live victorious lives. Three percent on Victory Lane, that's it. At least, that's what we figured. We estimated that 10 percent of all Christians live defeated lives, and the rest (a whopping 87 percent) live in mediocrity. Lukewarm, on plateau, declining, purposeless, yuck. Sounds like . . . failure.
In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow tells Dorothy that it makes no difference which road she's on because she does not know where she's going. Life without purpose is like traveling a road without knowing your destination. Yogi Berra, a relatively intelligent catcher for the Yankees, once said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else." I could not agree more.
Jesus gave humans a clear purpose: love God and love people (Mk 12:29-31). How exactly does one do that? Can't I just as easily love God and people by mowing grass, building houses, fixing cars, clerking at a grocery store, teaching school, starting churches, selling cars, or just about anything else that's legal and moral. Maybe I need some refinement.
It might help to ask yourself where you want to go. More important, where does God want to take you? Someplace boring or exciting? Someplace fast or relaxed? Edgy or safe? The end of the earth or the end of the block? Let me give you four things to think about while you're trying to decide.
Leading.What draws you? What makes you think, "That's me"? For now, let's assume that God put that leading in you. Get advice and follow it. See if God's develops a passion for it.
Passion.What gets your heart pumping? What task causes you to sit on the edge of your chair when you tell others about it? What would you do even if no one paid you to do it? It's fairly normal that if you get really good at something about which you are passionate, someone will pay you to do it. We can call passion your hearts desire. The Bible indicates that if you follow God closely, He will give you your heart's desire (Ps 37:4). He will also confirm whether or not your passion is from Him.
Confirmation.Start reading the Bible anticipating that God will give you a verse, a passage, or a story that confirms your leading and passion. It's very important that you get advice from a someone who has a good track record making wise decisions. You may consult parents, your Pastor, or a trusted teacher. There will be someone in your life--a leader that God gave you as a blessing. Once you find a biblical confirmation and your advisors confirm your understanding of it, memorize it. Then let God's Word build your faith.
Faith. Faith is what we need when we start second guessing our purpose (Heb 11:1). Most days, you and I need to remember that God's word settles our second-guessing and fears of failure. Like Abraham (Genesis 11-26), we just need to start off in a general direction doing what we've been told to do. If you're a preacher who can't get a church to preach to, start a new Sunday School class or a Bible study group with your neighbors. If God told you to create art, but you have no canvas, draw on cardboard. Do something. My wife, who is often smarter than me, notices that Bible heroes are usually doing their best to obey God while working at something--then God gives them a special assignment. Be productive and have faith that God will send you an assignment. That's the story of Noah, Moses, Jonah, Peter, Paul, John and a few others best I can tell.
With those four thoughts in your pocket, you should be set to find your God-given purpose. Once you know God's purpose for your life, it's time to make a big decision. Ask yourself, "will I trust God, or will I go my own way." If you trust God, you will be headed for success.
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