This week’s devotions are based on the Week 1 “Explore God” – Does Life Have Purpose? (WATCH HERE)
So, does life have a purpose?
This question we’ve been contemplating all week needs an answer.
Actually nearly 85% of people surveyed about this question would strongly agree or agree that life has a purpose. However, what that purpose is varies greatly. Some would say life is about enjoying the moment. Some would say the purpose of life is love and relationships. Some would focus on impact and making a difference.
The point is most people would answer the question, “Yes, life has a purpose.”
However, any purpose attached to something temporary always has opportunity to be a disappointment.
The common theme in all of these is attaching my purpose to something that is temporary.
Yes. Life has a purpose.
However, a quote I heard this week and don’t know to whom to give credit is this, “One can’t know their purpose until they know their Creator.”
The fulness of life’s purpose is found when we know our Creator.
God gives life its fullest purpose.
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Here’s two things that give life ultimate purpose:
First: Live each day to glorify God.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
When I recognize I am a creation of the almighty Creator, I ask the question, “God, what do you want me to do today?” At the core is to live out the two greatest commandments of “Love God” and “Love neighbor.” We do this not out of obligation or performance to earn something from God, rather we live in response to the love God has shown to us. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19) We live to love because we have come to know how deeply loved each of us is. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) We also live recognizing that all we are and have is a gift from God. Martin Luther put it this way as he commented in the “Small Catechism” on the first article of the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
So it is only natural for us to use the unique strengths, personality, giftedness and resources to glorify God and be a blessing to others.
Second: Live each day with an eternal perspective.
Live A.L.I.V.E! What does it mean to be alive? “Always Living In View of Eternity!” My purpose moves beyond the temporary to the eternal. Sure, one can enjoy relationships, advance in career, or have material blessings, but those temporary things are not our ultimate purpose. Rather, these are gifts God gives us to carry out our eternal purpose and perspective. Time is God’s gift for us to know him and to make him known to others. God’s ultimate purpose for us in this life is for us to spend an eternity with him in the next.
It’s that perspective that gives today purpose…that gives every day purpose!
Apply: How would you answer, “Does life have purpose?” to someone who asks?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for creating me and giving me purpose in life. With your help, lead me to live each day to your glory and with an eternal focus. AMEN.