Purpose in the Christian Life

What will it take for you to realize something new?
Or is it remembering something you have lost focus of?

Well for me it is coming to the realization of what my life's purpose is. I hear about my friends finding purpose in their lives. And this is good, don't get me wrong we all need purpose, something that pushes us forward, something that drives us.

Now I want you to take a minute to think about that.

What is your purpose?

That is a tough thing to think about, I know.
Now this may not be the first thing in your mind but I'm sure you're wondering,
What is my purpose for that matter?
Why am I asking you that?
And what dose that have to do with the weather?
Well for starters we all should, and need to, take time out to check ourselves, a self-evaluation.
“What drives me?”, “What makes me do what I do?”, or “Why do I do the things I do?”
These are all examples of questions that lead to self-examination.

What’s missing?

In the “Christian” life, we say we do things because of Jesus Christ. And if we call ourselves “Christians” we know that we are “under the gun” or in the sights of others. They focus on us, waiting for us to slip up so they can pass judgment or scoff at us. Or even worse we are only motivated by the actions themselves and there is a selfish motivation to the actions. Well my challenge to you is not to be “purpose driven” as a popular book may tell you, but rather as Christians be “Christ driven.” If Christ is not your purpose, what is? Job, family, friends, keeping up with the latest trends. We all fall into this to varying degrees, but we all must come back to the reasons and purpose of our actions.
So what’s your purpose?

Have you lost focus? Is your goal the same as when you started?

"So we make it our goal to please him,
whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
-2 Corinthians 5:9

Now here is where I really get excited because, as Christians, we are granted freedom in our faith in Christ.
We are Bondservants of Christ. He has set us free from being a slave to sin.
We must obey Christ because we are free!
It is out of love that we obey, that we follow His commands.

[ Pressing on Toward the Goal ] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
-Philippians 3:12

He is our Master, our Lord. And in His love and grace our obedience can take many shapes and forms. Let me use this illustration…God’s will is like an umbrella, yes there are things that we can do that are outside of the umbrella but there are so many things that are enveloped in His love and obedience. In other words, we all have a general calling; to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we all have an individual calling in order to minister to a specific person or people group and both are under the umbrella–some work with kids; others with adult discipleship; still some help the needy, elderly and poor; while others work with subcultures and students.

So, are we living to our full potential. That is to say, "Are we following Christ to the full?"

My good friend Ryan gave a sermon on living a “life poured out.” Are you pouring out your abilities and talents to serve and obey God?

What has your faith cost you in life?

Salvation isn’t a free pass to eternal life or flu shot to get to heaven. We are called to live a certain way. Live a life of repentance, a constant turning from sin, when temptation comes we turn away. Not that we won’t sin, it does happen but when it does happen we must repent. Our faith must bear fruit. There is a popular saying, “It is better to give, than to receive.” Are you giving others the same chance to receive redemption by spreading the truth of Christ? Are you giving back to God? Even though nothing we can do will compare to the great work that God has done in His Son Jesus Christ. But out of our love for Him our actions are directed.

So as you go out wherever it is that you go ask yourselves…

Will this bring glory and or honor to God in my taking part?
Or how can I take part in this and bring glory to His name?
What benefit does this have in my Christian walk?
Does this focus on Christ?
Can I do this without endangering my influence on others?
Am I being an example of Christ by doing this?

Just as the weather changed, things can change our mind, our outlook, our life.
Do your actions change other people’s perceptions of what it means to follow Christ?
Is that in a good way or a bad way?

I lost my job and just when I thought I had a temporary position lined up to help with some bills it falls through, yet still I’m staying strong in faith that God will provide. But I am realizing that things aren’t always as they seem. Life is set in seasons. For some a season may last longer than for another. I knew I was working at my last job for a reason, to minister to those I worked with and I am praying for them still. Now that season has ended and a new one is beginning. I thought I had found a short-term job sadly that door was closed, maybe for my benefit so I move on once again. I am realizing as my parents are older I am meeting their needs by working around the house that God is using me here, to grow and help at home, that I am needed here now. It is humbling and I am grateful. Yet still Christ remains my purpose for life, my reason for living and I am not ashamed.

So again I’ll ask you…
What’s your purpose?
Is it Christ? And is that enough?

For me it is more than enough. Christ is everything!

I hope that God reveals Himself to you this week, that you see Him in all things.
Soli Deo Gloria!

Grace & Peace
-ted

"Oooh Shiny!"

Just like when you were a kid and saw something that gleamed and sparkled…
when we hear or see something too many times, it loses it’s luster and becomes common place. It's not as attractive as it used to be. It has been cheapened. We don't esteem it at such a high value as we once did. Such a thing has happened in this day and age to “grace” (the grace of God.) I pray that the true meaning of the story of God’s grace, the Gospel, retains it’s edge. That when the Spirit of God speaks to each one of us, we listen, we obey, we love. For the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ truly was and still is the most beautiful, most tragic, one and only example of unconditional love, grace and mercy for the salvation of all who believe. And for that reason we need not add or take away from it but tell it as it is.

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” ~Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

Have we tarnished the name of Christianity?
Are we staying true to the word of God,are we living like the kingdom in the here and now?
How are we preparing for the return of the King?

Yes, we need to be feeding and clothing the poor and needy, but that’s not all of it.
Showing others mercy, kindness, love. Remaining in the hope of the return of our Lord. For His kingdom is not of this world. But while we're here, we need to be obedient to our Lord’s commands, not for necessity’s sake, for if we indeed love Him the evidence of our love(and faith) will be obedience.

“If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” 
~John 14:15 (ESV)

“only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes” ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Cost of Discipleship

So what happens if we say we love Christ but do not obey? What happens if we say we believe and do not obey with the love that must accompany obedience? We are only giving lip service to Jesus. It truly is a narrow way after the narrow gate(Matt. 7:13-23).

What should the basis or intent of our actions be?
To do all things for the glory of God in love.

“And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” ~I Corinthians 13:3 (NASB)

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
~John Wesley

This quote by John Wesley puts things in perspective that being a Christian is not to be taken lightly, we have a responsibility. We must do everything humanly possible as if it all depended on our actions but have the faith that it all depends on God. It is ultimately for His glory and purpose.

Are you glorifying God's name, obeying His commands, fulfilling His will out of love for Him?

Here's a question I'm sure has crossed someone's mind… How can we love God if we don’t love our brother/neighbor?
You can't. You have to love them or you don't love God. But if we don't love God and His love is not in us it is impossible for us to love our neighbor properly.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” ~I John 4:18

Some take a position that we must love our brother before we can love God and reasonably so. But what the apostle John is telling us in 1 John chapter 4, is that we can only love others because we love God, and God’s love is filling us and overflowing onto those around us. Our loving our brother/neighbor is evidence that we love God and that His Spirit is in us.

To sum it up:
Can we really say we’re loving one another?
This is not passing judgment, it is a challenge. A checking of the compass to make sure our bearing is straight. We must stay the course, with encouragement, reproof, and most importantly love.

Glory be to God in the highest.
May we never lose sight of our first love, Jesus Christ.

Grace & Peace