TRANSFORMED IN OUR PURPOSE
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.”
Jeremiah 29:11–12 (NLT)
In my years as a pastor, I have seen many people make a commitment to Jesus. I have watched as they begin to read the Bible, learn to hear God’s voice, and grow radically in their faith. To me, there is nothing more exciting than that. On the other hand, I have seen people make a commitment to Jesus only to slowly fall away from their faith and sometimes walk away from God entirely. There is nothing more gut-wrenching to me than seeing this. It makes me ask the question, why is it that some people flourish in their faith while others seem to fall away?
I’ve found that part of the answer lies in the commitment they made when they first said they were following Jesus. Those whose faith stayed on fire for God believed that God had saved them for something, while those who fell away from their faith believed that God had rescued them from something. The people who fell away said yes to Jesus because they believed God saved them from hell, from their sadness, from their pain, from their problems, or from the mundane nature of life. The problem with this faith is, first, it’s a consumeristic faith. You don’t follow Jesus because of His glory and goodness; you follow Him because you get something out of it. Second, it’s a faith that really doesn’t have a purpose after you say yes to Jesus. In many ways, it’s a faith that is just waiting to go to heaven one day.
What’s the solution? To understand that when you say yes to Jesus, you are called to live for Him! Notice the verse above: God says, I have plans for you. Plans to give you a hope and future! God wants you to live for Him and with Him. He wants you to know His Spirit and power. He wants you to know God as a Father. He wants you to be salt and light and live in such a way that you capture the attention of heaven and draw others to Jesus. God hasn’t called you just to attend church on Sunday or wait to go to heaven. He’s called you to live radically for Him. He’s called you to walk with Him daily through His Word and prayer, and He promises that if you abide in Him, you will bear fruit for Him! Live for Him today!
APPLICATION: God hasn’t saved you from something; He’s saved you for daily life with Him. This is your most important purpose.
PRAYER: Ask God if He needs to expand your vision of your faith. Sometimes, we have such a small vision of faith, where God just saves us from something, but God wants us to live for Him and His greatness. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you think about ways to live for Him daily. Ask Him how you can live for Him in your job, with your kids, with your spouse, in retirement, in your neighborhood, with your friends.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?