Live Out Our Life-Purpose
Now, here are a couple of ‘possibly’ odd questions to ponder at the frontend, but necessary ones, nonetheless:
- Have you ever enjoyed a sunset and found you could only sit, basking within its beauty?
- Have you ever awakened early, pre-dawn, just so you could experience the glorious sunrise?
Oftentimes, these two opportunities exist only when we are on holiday, when we are not consumed by the stressors of arising to prepare for work and of striving to accomplish all that we can before the days’ end. Unfortunately, there are days when our workday keeps us from enjoying a holiday respite from our work or the LORD’S beauty found at the early start and close His day. Nevertheless, however we find our day, it’s possible to see our life-purpose in the path the LORD leads us to walk.
In the Old Testament, maybe (like me) you have studied the biblical narrative of Esther, the young Jewish girl who was chosen to become the queen of Persia. Within her placement, even while not disclosing to King Xerxes her true identity, she learned of Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. Pause to recall:
- Esther was born a Jew.
- Esther was adopted into her uncle Mordecai’s home.
- Esther was chosen from all the virgins living in Susa to become the king’s bride, his queen.
Clearly, the evidence points specifically to divine providence placed on her life. Do we believe the same for our own lives? Consider how we are shaped for seasons that come to our lives, shaped by the hand of God. Therefore, if we are cognizant of this truth and malleable to His hand of shaping our personal will to His will, then we can be used for His purpose.
Again, to help us better understand, let’s look to Esther’s life.
“Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy,
(The Book of Esther 3: 13-15 NAS)
to kill and to annihilate all the Jews,
both young and old, women and children, in one day,
the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar,
and to seize their possessions as plunder.
A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples
so that they should be ready for this day.
The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa;
and while the king and Haman [the enemy of the Jews]
sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.”
If we are honest, we may find ourselves walking from day-to-day, living the way we think we ought to live, choosing our own career paths, orchestrating our personal relationships, and we are dictating our hobbies—without giving any thought of God’s divine providence. Could be that we are living in preparation for today when what we should surmise is that the LORD knows His plans for our future.
We know, for it is the Gospel Truth—God’s Word is eternal, permeating time, space, place & generations of people.
- Therefore, as a follower of Jesus, partial obedience to God is not our goal.
- Complete obedience to God’s will for our lives should be our goal.
The LORD speaks to His creation in a variety of ways:
- Through His beautifully created earth.
- Through His people, His chosen.
- Through His Holy Spirit.
- Through His Holy Word.
Thus, we need to stay in constant communication with our Father through prayer and Bible study. In doing so, we can then:
- Pay attention to our life-circumstances.
- Receive clarity from God’s Word. &
- Live out God’s purpose for our lives.
A long time ago, a close family member asked me, “How can you read the Bible over and over?” The narrative of a person’s life, one such as Queen Esther, provides the answer. In the words of Mordecai, her uncle, we read these well-known words that display Esther living out her life purpose.
“Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.
(The Book of Esther 4: 13b-14 NAS)
For if you remain silent at this time,
relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place
and you and your father’s house will perish.
And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
So, in closing, when we delight daily in God’s Word, we come to a place where we meet Jesus Christ Himself because HE IS THE LIVING WORD!
Could it be that the LORD, in His providence, has allowed us to:
- Live through a life-storm.
- Step into and walk through a frightening health-scare.
- Walk through life without a spouse.
- Change careers when we thought we were already working in the right place.
- Retire before we thought it was time or even before we were ready to stop working.
- Stretch our faith to befriend a once-stranger but now a friend.
Quite possibly the LORD, in His eternal providence, has allowed us to walk through these life situations—BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS THE PAST & PRESENT!
As we allow Jesus to work through us in our lives, THE LORD CHANGES OUR HEARTS & OUR HABITS & OUR FOCUS.
So, if you have ever enjoyed a sunset and found you could only sit, basking within its beauty, or if you have found yourself awake early in the pre-dawn, just so you could experience the glorious sunrise, then you will understand the psalmist David explanation of the way the LORD works within and through us.
“The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
(The Psalms 19: 1-2 & 5b-6 NAS)
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
. . .
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.”
- May we recall how God’s creation & the Word of God Shout His Glory.
- May we Not cling to anything but to the Cross of Calvary.
- Let us remember daily how we are God’s Vessels of Earthen Clay.
- Let us Never forget how Jesus Christ gave His life to pay the penalty required for Our Sin.
Followers of Jesus, we must Live Out Our Life-Purpose as the Holy Spirit of God Reveals it to Us.