Purpose

“The greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more it will be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by prayer and faith.”

-George Muller

Let’s remember the weak, oppressed, and rejected of this world: pray for God to provide for their needs and mercy for those living in war, conflict, and broken family situations.

God calls each of us to trust, obey, and depend upon Him. He also gives us a purpose in life from which meaning flows. George Muller daily depended upon God to provide for the orphans.

He daily spent hours in prayer, trusting that God would always provide for the situations/needs that came up. His memoirs are a record of God’s faithfulness! This website gives a great overview of his beliefs and actions.

https://www.georgemuller.org/devotional/the-life-of-george-muller

James 1:17 Berean Standard Bible

17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

The Baptist Catechism: What is our chief purpose?

The Baptist Catechism 1693 teaches:

Question 2:
What is the chief end of man?
Answer:
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

1 Cor. 10:31: New King James Version emphasis mine

31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

God’s glory and praise is the purpose of our lives as His followers! Our normal, everyday activities are avenues for praise!

Psalm 73:25-26

25Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

God is our chief desire! Above all else. Consider Matthew 13:44-46 parables of the treasure and pearl.

https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-treasure-pearl.html

Isaiah 43:7

7Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

John Piper explains verse 7

But this means that when God says he made us for his glory, he does not mean he made us so that he could become more glorious in himself.

Instead what Isaiah 43:7 means is that he created us to display his glory, that is, that his glory might be known and praised.

This is the goal of God with which we must be aligned in our hearts and actions if we hope to escape his wrath at the judgment.

John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/god-created-us-for-his-glory accessed 3/8/24

Enduring Word commentary explains:

i. Whom I have created for My glory means that God not only has created us but that He has created us for a purpose.

If we have no Creator, then we are purposeless; but God has created us, and He did it for a purpose, creating us for His glory.

This means that when we are glorifying God, we are fulfilling the purpose we were created for, and will therefore be the happiest and fulfilled.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-43/ accessed 3/8/24

Purpose and Joy come through Him

Recently, I have been praying and considering God’s ways and how I can find purpose in joy in Him specifically regarding His call on my life. Oswald Chambers shares various insights. I include these quotes for the purpose of facilitating spiritual discussion and review. His quotes will be in blue, my thoughts in gray.

Devotional 1: https://utmost.org/is-he-really-my-lord/

Devotional 2: https://utmost.org/the-source-of-abundant-joy/

Origin of Joy: Specific Purpose

“Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing.”

Jesus transforms us into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). He then call us to serve as His representatives of His reconciliation (ambassadors) on earth (verses 18-21). Do we seek to serve Him in our way(s) or according to our limited human understanding? Chambers encourages us to seek His calling and presence. It’s not about how I chose to serve Him! It’s all about His call and direction.

“He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God.”

This statement is humbling if we carefully consider it! Often we desire to serve God in a manner that seems “most fruitful” or where we “might be most effective.” Chambers reminds us that the call is about two main concepts. First, we are to be fully, completely loyal to His commission. What is His commission? Consider the Great Commission and Holy Spirit’s actions in Acts. God call us to make disciples.

Got Questions explanation of the Great Commission with Greek explanation:

It is interesting that, in the original Greek, the only direct command in Matthew 28:19–20 is “make disciples.”

The Great Commission instructs us to make disciples while we are going throughout the world. The instructions to “go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are indirect commands—participles in the original.

How are we to make disciples? By baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus commanded.

“Make disciples” is the primary command of the Great Commission. “Going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are the means by which we fulfill the command to “make disciples.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/great-commission.html accessed 3/9/24

Does God mention being successful in worldly terms? Does this involve having a large social media presence, leading a large church, or entertaining masses of people basking in their praise and applause? Often the most faithful servants are those no one knows, recognizes, or considers.

Secondly, Chambers mentions faithfulness and discernment in the context of close fellowship with God. The late Henry Blackaby in his “Experiencing God: How to Live the Full Adventure of Knowing and Doing the Will of God” states:

“Anything of spiritual significance that happens in your life will be a result of God’s activity in you. He is infinitely more concerned with your life and your relationship with Him than you or I could possibly be.”

“We don’t choose what we will do for God; He invites us to join Him where He wants to involve us.”

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/41831464-experiencing-god-how-to-live-the-full-adventure-of-knowing-and-doing-th

God works through our relationship with Him. It’s all about Him and relationship! Henry explains that we are to find God and where He is working and join with Him. This requires discernment, trust, obedience, and walking with Him. This discernment comes about through a daily process of listening, seeking, and placing Him first, above all other concerns, and motives.

“The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him.”

Chambers encourages us to be faithful to what God gives us (ministry). This is a major theme of Paul’s life. Luke gives us Paul’s words to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:22-24 emphasis mine

22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me. 24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Holy Spirit compels Paul to go to Jerusalem with a warning of coming tribulation and trials. Notice Paul’s focus: the Gospel ministry-testifying to the good news of God’s mighty grace. Paul’s arrest leads him to testify before King Herod Agrippa II and Procurator Porcius Festus in Acts 26. Paul gives his testimony:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/26.htm

Luke writes in Acts 28:30-31

30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is our purpose and testimony! That we, like Paul, may be found faithful and true to God’s call.