Purpose, a word that can drive anyone to excitement and fill one's mind with anxiety if pondered to long. Many will spend countless hours, days or even years trying to first find and then fulfill theirs. Often from purpose, a cause is derived. That cause will consume us, drive us and many times cause us to wonder why every other God fearing, Jesus loving Christian isn't standing right beside us, fighting the same fight we are fighting. Speaking, sadly, from my own experience and thoughts.
Over the last few years, we sought after God's purpose for our lives. And then, two years ago the Lord was gracious enough to just simply open one little door, one little opportunity to serve Him and others in a way we had not considered, in a way we had not planned or conceived in our minds. But that one opportunity would ultimately set before us our cause, our very purpose for this season of our life or perhaps our whole lives. After all, I can only speak for this moment, this day. You see that opportunity brought the very essence of God's love for us into a divine reality. It was a tangible and real experience of His mercy and grace. At that moment the word became expeditiously real, James 1:27( Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ESV) became our purpose. 6 months later, I arrived home from Ukraine with our 14 year old daughter. Our hearts were stirred and we were moved, but why wasn't anyone else? Why wasn't everyone jumping on a plane? After all, the scripture is clear, right? Consumed with purpose, overwhelmed by the cause, resentment towards the world, towards the church will set in. Thankfully I have a mighty God, who can set things right.
Let's look at one thing first, You can find reference to helping orphans and widows all the way back to exodus in the bible, perhaps even further. So, for anyone to say they are not called to help orphans and widows, they are mistaken. In fact many nations were warned of, or received judgement from God for not seeking justice for the fatherless or pleading the widows cause. We all have specific calling and a specific gift, but we are all called to help those in need. What we do for the least on earth, is ultimately how we are treating God(Ref- Matt 25:40).
But, my point tonight is this, find your purpose, find your cause. But you must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. You can only find your purpose in Him, for He has predestined you with a purpose, with a plan for your life, after all He knew you before you were in your mother's womb, He knew by name and had numbered already the hairs on your head. But you have to find your identity in Him, in Christ first. Then, and only then will you find your purpose. We can do all kinds of things that we think we are "called" to do, but if we are not seeking God first, we are treading on dangerous ground. Jesus was very clear in Matt 7:21-27;
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' 24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."(ESV).
We must ensure it His will that is being done not our own. I want to encourage you submit to Him, seek His will, cry out to Him "Here am I Lord, send me". If you pray that with a sincere heart, without doubt, I guarantee He will answer that prayer. He will answer you with His purpose and will for you, He will give you your cause. I no longer question what others are doing, simply what I am doing, I now take time to seek the Father and sure I am within His will.
Well I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine upon you. I pray the Lord reveal Himself to you, that He will encounter you, that He will lead you through all you do. In Jesus' name, AMEN!
