January 8, 2020
My Devotion
My Heart
What is Your Purpose?
Teresa Jenkins
I keep asking that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may
be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably
great power for us who believe. That
power is like the working of His mighty strength. Ephesians 1:17-19
“I find no pleasure” (was my
mother’s substitute for saying “I hate _____.”) in this question that comes
around at the midnight strike of January 1 and continues to haunt me several
times through the year. Purpose, that
word sends me into doubt and fear because my definition of purpose means
something I’m supposed to be doing. My
feeble understanding of purpose is an assignment, it’s used in Bible lessons, sermons,
and counseling sessions and that word seems to be everywhere this time of year. I want to know my purpose; I want to be what God
created me to do.
The dictionary definition: (noun)
the reason for which something is done or created or for which something
exists. Which leads me to another
question. “Why was I created?” For we are God’s workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians
2:10. I look at God’s workmanship all around me and think to myself, God
still made me?
The age of technology has
succeeded to show me just how significant I am.
Have you ever searched your location on a map website? You can zoom in really close and see your
street and even the lot on which your house is built. When you zoom out your “space” on earth quickly
disappears. Suddenly, individually we amount
to a microscopic size on a map. Still
Ephesians 2:10 says you and I were created to do good works, that He prepared
in advance, before He created us.
Psalm139 goes into great detail of our significance to God, there is no
where we can go that He is not already there with you and with me and with
every other person. We are all God’s
workmanship and He had and still has a plan.
We have no clue, really to the
significance of our existence, but one day we will see as we are seen. Paul describes it as looking at a dim
reflection in a mirror, we cannot see exactly what God is doing through our
life. Every day we have a purpose…some are
more significant in the eyes of the world, but every thing we do affects the
space in which we are. My problem with
the idea of purpose, I see it through the comparison mirror of what I see others
doing.
From my perspective, I don’t see
much change or influence that I have.
Most likely when I get to heaven, I’m going to be shocked when Jesus
tells me the good things that happened because of me. Satan wants me to fear going to heaven
because of that part of judgment when God points out all the things I did wrong
or the things I didn’t do. That’s His
tool to shut me up, making me believe that God’s vengeance is going to be
pointed at me for my mistakes that led people astray, or that I wasn’t a better
mother to my children, or that … the doubts and fears run rampant in me holding
me back from living the faith that I am a child of God, yes I will make
mistakes, I will do things wrong, but Jesus is my advocate, He sits by the Father’s
right hand interceding for me. Though I’m
peeking through the window of the “twilight” years of life, as long as there is
breath in me God’s purpose for me will prevail.
So, as this year proceeds, and
the question, “What is my purpose?” rolls through your mind occasionally, the
answer is quite simple. Live in such a
way that when people see you, they see Jesus. Seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Mark 6:33 Speak the truth in love. Smile. Be friendly. Be helpful.
Give generously. At every
opportunity, share Jesus.
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in
the world today. I know that He is
living no matter what men say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of
cheer and just the time I need Him He’s always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives
today! He walks with me and talks with
me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He
lives, salvation to impart! You ask me
how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
(by Homer A Rodeheaver, 1933)
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