TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Last week, we talked about our identity, and today, we’re going to talk about our purpose.
Isn’t that mankind’s greatest question — “Why am I here?” We all want to know our purpose… what is our meaning for life… no matter what corner of the globe, we are all seeking to find our “why.”
We all have different assignments. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We weren’t created without purpose. And one of our responsibilities is to fulfill the specific task God has planned for us. Of course, much depends on us. Our loving God has given us the choice to obey or go our own way. Our own way is never the right way, but still — it’s our God-given choice.
While our assignments may be individually given, if we drop the ball, God will still have His work completed. If you choose to disobey, you won’t screw up God’s divine plan. He will get the job done another way because His will always prevails. As it says in Proverbs 19:21, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
But above all — no matter our individual assignments — we have one common purpose: to serve God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Or as the ESV says, “for this is the whole duty of man.”
As I mentally prepared for this week’s blog, I couldn’t help but think of Queen Elizabeth. (Yes, I follow the royal family… not obsessively, but if I see their names in the news, I’ll read about them.) I greatly admired Queen Elizabeth. She struck me as a gentle woman who was poised and dignified. Most of all, I respected her willingness to speak of her faith. The Billy Graham website published an article with some of her quotes, but one of my favorites was something the Queen said in 2000, “To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”
I think Queen Elizabeth modeled a life focused on her purpose. With the eyes of the world on her, she served God first, country second.
As you reflect on your own life, how are you serving God? Are you in a time of obedience or have you gone your own way? Are you seeking God daily? Or just when it’s convenient or a time of crisis? Have you devoted yourself to His will above your own? Are you fearing God and keeping His commandments, trusting in the timelessness of His Word over the “rules of man?”
You have a purpose. God made you with a plan. Today is the day to live in your purpose and walk in His plan.
Today, as you pray, thank God for creating you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in His will. Ask Him to show you the assignment He has for you. And ask for the fearless courage to live your purpose everyday — to shine the light of Christ to others through a life of obedience and the pursuit of His will.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
