Did you know that God has a plan and purpose for your life?
Listen to what He said to Jeremiah in chapter 1, verse 5: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nations.” (Those who favor abortion hate this verse.)
In Jeremiah 29:11 NLT God tells us that He has plans for our lives. “‘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.’”
The Apostle Paul in several of his letters begins with “Paul, an apostle by the will of God.”
I was looking for a definition and came up with “something set up as an object or goal to be attained.” For each of us, it is God’s desire that we daily live a life that is pleasing to Him and that will bring Him glory. In my case, beyond what I just stated, it was His specific plan for me to become a pastor and shepherd His people.
I believe there are several different ways that our loving, heavenly Father wants us to relate to Him.
· He wants us to WORSHIP Him. That is one of His purposes for us. In Psalm 100:1-5 ESV we read, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Surely after reading these verses, it should be obvious that one of God’s purposes for us is that we worship Him.
· God wants us to have FELLOWSHIP with each other. In Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT we read, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” I am amazed by those who go to the doctor’s office, the dental office, the grocery store, birthday or anniversary parties, and other places, but they can’t come to church because they might pick up some bug from someone. Folks, if God can’t take care of you in church, He can’t take care of you anywhere.
· God has purposed that each of us BE HIS DISCIPLE and that we MAKE DISCIPLES, as well. A disciple is a learner or apprentice. Jesus is our master teacher. He took a dozen unprepared men and called them His disciples. They were fishermen, tax collectors – you name it. They spent three and a half years with Him and then He left the ministry in their hands and He went back to heaven.
In Matthew 28:18-20 NLT we read, “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Folks, we are to be His disciples and we are also to be disciple-makers.
· God has purposed for each of us to SERVE others. In Galatians 5:13 NLT the Apostle Paul wrote – “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
Jesus set the example for serving in John 13:4-5 NLT. “So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.” Note: He even washed the feet of Judas who would soon betray Him.
o Are you willing to serve the Lord by “washing” the feet of others?
o Is there any menial task that you are not willing to do?
There are so many ways here at Jubilee to serve. If you see a need and no one is doing it (or another needs help), why don’t you step up and do it? If you are willing to serve and don’t know what the needs are, please come and see me and I will help you get started.
· God has purposed for us as Christ’s followers to witness Him to others. In Acts 1:8 NLT shortly before He went back to heaven, Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Acts 5:32 NLT we read, “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey Him.” Folks, everyone has the right to hear the good news about Jesus Christ. The only way that can happen is for us who know the Lord to tell others about Him.
In Ephesians 5:8 NLT, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”
Then in 1 Peter 2:9, the Apostle Peter wrote, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”
So, in summary, let me say that God’s purpose for each of us who know Him is that:
· We worship Him.
· We have fellowship with Him and with others.
· We are to be His disciples who make disciples.
· We serve others.
· We bear witness to others about Him.
So, dear ones, how are you doing in fulfilling these God-given purposes? When you one day stand before Him and He asks you how you did in each of these categories, what will be your answer?
I pray that each of us will be able to say we were fully committed to Him and were faithful in living out these God-given purposes for Him.
For His glory,
Pastor Leonard
