Living On Purpose:
(Or … what in the world am I here for?)
Life has a way of stopping us in our tracks. Sometimes it's a health crisis, a sudden loss, or an unexpected turn that makes us pause and ask the hard questions: Why am I here? What's this all for? What's my purpose?
These aren't just mere musings, they're soul-deep questions that demand real answers. Those answers I believe are - baked right into your DNA. Now, while the world offers plenty of suggestions about purpose—career success, financial security, raising a family—there's a deeper truth underneath. A truth that can only be found when we look beyond ourselves and seek first the Kingdom of God.
The Foundation: Seeking First His Kingdom
Jesus taught us something pretty revolutionary in the Beatitudes: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you." This isn't to suggest that we should ignore practical responsibilities. Providing for ourselves and our families matter. Building a career matters. But these things should fall into their proper place - somewhat below our primary purpose. Sometimes we only allow ourselves to contemplate the deeper meaning of life when troubles, trials or tragedy strikes —and when it does—we face a choice. We can hold onto the enemy's lies (this is the end, you're done, you’ve really blown it this time, what’s the use?) or we can cling to God's truth (you are fearfully and wonderfully made, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, He will never leave you or forsake you).
Here's a thought about those thoughts: you cannot hold two opposing thoughts in your mind simultaneously. One must win. Darkness - isn't really a force—it's simply the absence of light. When you flip the switch in a dark room, darkness doesn't fight back or resist. It simply vanishes. That's the power of bringing God's truth into our circumstances. When dark thoughts seem to overwhelm – replace those negative thoughts with the truth and light of God’s Word! The darkness vanishes!
Purpose Number One: To Glorify God
Isaiah 43:7 reveals something most of us never stop to ponder: "... I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them."
We exist, first and foremost, to glorify God. This might sound shocking or even off-putting at first. We're conditioned to think God exists to serve our purposes, to bless our plans, to make our lives comfortable. But we've got that backwards.
What does it mean to glorify God? and How do we Glorify God?:
I'll state it in three letters - “W.H.O.”
W.orship Him - A thankful heart recognizes His goodness and the overwhelming reality that it is He who created us and then He alone (Jesus) who saved us and walks with us now! To worship Him means to express reverence and adoration for Him and all that He has done. – The Bible says that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” – also that “He loved you so much" - that He laid down His life for us. Then returning to Heaven - He sent Holy Spirit to live within us – and keep us - our Helper. When that strikes you – what He did and is still doing (that we don’t draw our next breath or heartbeat – without His say-so) I think the only logical response to this reality is to Worship Him – to express our reverence, adoration and awe for God who loves you so!
H.onor Him -- To honor Him is to live a life of integrity and to reflect His character in everything we think, do and say is - Honoring Him.
O.bey Him – We obey Him by keeping His commands. He said in a new command I give you - in John 13:34 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." - We obey Him when we "Love others".
Glorifying God isn't reserved for Sunday mornings or formal religious activities. Everything—absolutely everything—can be an act of worship. Changing a diaper. Reading a story to a grandchild. Doing your job with excellence. Hosting breakfast. Even the young woman at a McDonald's drive-thru who cheerfully shouted - "Have a blessed day!" Is glorifying God. Romans 12:1 reminds us to … “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Purpose Number Two: “To Go” –But To Always ... Go in His Gifts
The Great Commission wasn't just for the original disciples. It's the great imperative for all believers: take what you know about Jesus and bring it to the world. Be the light. Don't hide it. This is where our Holy Spirit gifts come in. Each of us has been uniquely equipped to bear fruit in specific ways. We go into the world not in our own strength or wisdom, but in His gifts, empowered by His Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Notice the connection: when we let our light shine, when we do good works motivated by His love, we are pointing with our lives to Him and glorifying our Father in heaven. Even in ordinary places—the grocery store, the workplace, the neighborhood—we carry His presence. Sometimes it's appropriate to speak directly about Jesus. Sometimes it's not. But we are always telling a story with our lives. The story we tell should be one of love. We love people into the Kingdom. That's how we go, and that's how we grow. Which brings us to ...
Purpose Number Three: To Grow Up in Him
Ephesians 4:13 describes this ultimate purpose of God for our lives: reaching "unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." This is God's ideal picture of us. When He created us, when He redeemed us, He didn't set us free just to wander aimlessly or fall off a cliff. He wants the best for us—just as we want the best for our children and grandchildren. Growing up in Christ isn't about earning salvation. That's settled. This is about glorification—becoming who He created us to be, growing up into His robe of righteousness He's already placed His robe on us. For many - this realization comes late. We spend years … maybe decades—"kicking against the goads," as Paul described his pre-conversion life. A Goad was a stick with a sharp iron spike used to guide and prod oxen - while plowing to steer it in the right direction. If it kicked against the goad -it would suffer even more. Thus, Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9:5). Yet we kick against God's direction, pursuing our own plans, until something stops us. “Hey this hurts”!!! Sometimes it doesn't hurt - but then God has to pull us over for speeding. When He does, we need to talk to the Officer. We need to ask: Lord, what are You teaching me? What do You want me to change? What am I supposed to pay attention to?
The Journey Forward:
“All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 That's not just a comforting notion about our - not so great circumstances —it's a promise that redefines how we should view our very lives. When trials come, when the unexpected knocks us sideways, (and they will) there's a lesson being passed down, a truth being revealed. These moments defeat the enemy when we respond with God's truth instead of fear. Don't wait for disaster to discover your purpose. Don't let the busyness of life distract you from the real work: Glorifying God – in all that you do, Going in His Gifts, and Growing in Him. It doesn’t have to be big (though of course it could be - God decides that) but focus today on the ordinary stuff—the places we go, the people we meet, the things we do—we can cut through the darkness of this world by bringing His light and love. Whatever you do, whether baking a cake or closing a business deal, do it as an act of worship. Let your life be marked by selfless, undying love. That's how we glorify God, and how we fulfill our purpose here on earth. Will you start today? Even if it’s just to say … Have a Blessed Day!
(Or … what in the world am I here for?)
Life has a way of stopping us in our tracks. Sometimes it's a health crisis, a sudden loss, or an unexpected turn that makes us pause and ask the hard questions: Why am I here? What's this all for? What's my purpose?
These aren't just mere musings, they're soul-deep questions that demand real answers. Those answers I believe are - baked right into your DNA. Now, while the world offers plenty of suggestions about purpose—career success, financial security, raising a family—there's a deeper truth underneath. A truth that can only be found when we look beyond ourselves and seek first the Kingdom of God.
The Foundation: Seeking First His Kingdom
Jesus taught us something pretty revolutionary in the Beatitudes: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you." This isn't to suggest that we should ignore practical responsibilities. Providing for ourselves and our families matter. Building a career matters. But these things should fall into their proper place - somewhat below our primary purpose. Sometimes we only allow ourselves to contemplate the deeper meaning of life when troubles, trials or tragedy strikes —and when it does—we face a choice. We can hold onto the enemy's lies (this is the end, you're done, you’ve really blown it this time, what’s the use?) or we can cling to God's truth (you are fearfully and wonderfully made, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, He will never leave you or forsake you).
Here's a thought about those thoughts: you cannot hold two opposing thoughts in your mind simultaneously. One must win. Darkness - isn't really a force—it's simply the absence of light. When you flip the switch in a dark room, darkness doesn't fight back or resist. It simply vanishes. That's the power of bringing God's truth into our circumstances. When dark thoughts seem to overwhelm – replace those negative thoughts with the truth and light of God’s Word! The darkness vanishes!
Purpose Number One: To Glorify God
Isaiah 43:7 reveals something most of us never stop to ponder: "... I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them."
We exist, first and foremost, to glorify God. This might sound shocking or even off-putting at first. We're conditioned to think God exists to serve our purposes, to bless our plans, to make our lives comfortable. But we've got that backwards.
What does it mean to glorify God? and How do we Glorify God?:
I'll state it in three letters - “W.H.O.”
W.orship Him - A thankful heart recognizes His goodness and the overwhelming reality that it is He who created us and then He alone (Jesus) who saved us and walks with us now! To worship Him means to express reverence and adoration for Him and all that He has done. – The Bible says that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” – also that “He loved you so much" - that He laid down His life for us. Then returning to Heaven - He sent Holy Spirit to live within us – and keep us - our Helper. When that strikes you – what He did and is still doing (that we don’t draw our next breath or heartbeat – without His say-so) I think the only logical response to this reality is to Worship Him – to express our reverence, adoration and awe for God who loves you so!
H.onor Him -- To honor Him is to live a life of integrity and to reflect His character in everything we think, do and say is - Honoring Him.
O.bey Him – We obey Him by keeping His commands. He said in a new command I give you - in John 13:34 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." - We obey Him when we "Love others".
Glorifying God isn't reserved for Sunday mornings or formal religious activities. Everything—absolutely everything—can be an act of worship. Changing a diaper. Reading a story to a grandchild. Doing your job with excellence. Hosting breakfast. Even the young woman at a McDonald's drive-thru who cheerfully shouted - "Have a blessed day!" Is glorifying God. Romans 12:1 reminds us to … “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Purpose Number Two: “To Go” –But To Always ... Go in His Gifts
The Great Commission wasn't just for the original disciples. It's the great imperative for all believers: take what you know about Jesus and bring it to the world. Be the light. Don't hide it. This is where our Holy Spirit gifts come in. Each of us has been uniquely equipped to bear fruit in specific ways. We go into the world not in our own strength or wisdom, but in His gifts, empowered by His Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Notice the connection: when we let our light shine, when we do good works motivated by His love, we are pointing with our lives to Him and glorifying our Father in heaven. Even in ordinary places—the grocery store, the workplace, the neighborhood—we carry His presence. Sometimes it's appropriate to speak directly about Jesus. Sometimes it's not. But we are always telling a story with our lives. The story we tell should be one of love. We love people into the Kingdom. That's how we go, and that's how we grow. Which brings us to ...
Purpose Number Three: To Grow Up in Him
Ephesians 4:13 describes this ultimate purpose of God for our lives: reaching "unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." This is God's ideal picture of us. When He created us, when He redeemed us, He didn't set us free just to wander aimlessly or fall off a cliff. He wants the best for us—just as we want the best for our children and grandchildren. Growing up in Christ isn't about earning salvation. That's settled. This is about glorification—becoming who He created us to be, growing up into His robe of righteousness He's already placed His robe on us. For many - this realization comes late. We spend years … maybe decades—"kicking against the goads," as Paul described his pre-conversion life. A Goad was a stick with a sharp iron spike used to guide and prod oxen - while plowing to steer it in the right direction. If it kicked against the goad -it would suffer even more. Thus, Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9:5). Yet we kick against God's direction, pursuing our own plans, until something stops us. “Hey this hurts”!!! Sometimes it doesn't hurt - but then God has to pull us over for speeding. When He does, we need to talk to the Officer. We need to ask: Lord, what are You teaching me? What do You want me to change? What am I supposed to pay attention to?
The Journey Forward:
“All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 That's not just a comforting notion about our - not so great circumstances —it's a promise that redefines how we should view our very lives. When trials come, when the unexpected knocks us sideways, (and they will) there's a lesson being passed down, a truth being revealed. These moments defeat the enemy when we respond with God's truth instead of fear. Don't wait for disaster to discover your purpose. Don't let the busyness of life distract you from the real work: Glorifying God – in all that you do, Going in His Gifts, and Growing in Him. It doesn’t have to be big (though of course it could be - God decides that) but focus today on the ordinary stuff—the places we go, the people we meet, the things we do—we can cut through the darkness of this world by bringing His light and love. Whatever you do, whether baking a cake or closing a business deal, do it as an act of worship. Let your life be marked by selfless, undying love. That's how we glorify God, and how we fulfill our purpose here on earth. Will you start today? Even if it’s just to say … Have a Blessed Day!
HOPE Blog ... Pastor Bob DeFelice
Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
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