DISCOVERY OF PURPOSE (2)

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S PURPOSE that prevails” – Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

God’s Word presents wise and scriptural ways to the DISCOVERY of PURPOSE: “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S PURPOSE that prevails” (Pro.19: 20-21, NIV). Although we often have our own myopic ideas of how life should look, God has an ultimate Purpose, which we should long for to prevail. His Ways are higher and His Plans greater than ours; hence we must learn to ask Him to prompt us when we set out to make plans, so we’ll act according to His Will and not our own. We should align our hearts, ideas, and Will with His, surrendering every detail to His greater Purpose.

God’s Purpose for our lives is eternal: “According to the ETERNAL PURPOSE which He purposes in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph.3:11). However, this Purpose can and must be discovered and defined. It must be found to be fulfilled! Nothing takes the place of knowing our purpose in life. Four Key Ways to locate WHERE we belong on earth and WHY we are here are: by Calling, Gifting, Identity, and the Word.

By our Calling: “...as the Lord has CALLED each one, so let him walk...Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was CALLED” (1Cor.7:17b,24). My Purpose in embedded in my Calling. Whereas all are gifted, some are called into certain assignments which reflect distinct purposes.

By our Gifts: “Having then GIFTS differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (Rom.12:6a). I have what I need to be who I am! GIFT speaks of POTENTIAL, which is a pointer to PURPOSE. Gifts are natural endowments built into our human systems to enhance profiting – to make us profitable occupants of the earth. Gifts are potentials that naturally flow out of us without pressure; divinely-imparted instruments to “do business” and occupy for the Lord (Lk.19:13).

By our Identity: Purpose derives from Identity. The discovery of purpose is the discovery of me! Identity includes our unique assets, abilities, weaknesses, and peculiarities. We each originated from God. We were in His heart and in His dreams, long before the foundations of the earth. We are not mistakes of encounters between our parents. We were expected here on earth, to glorify God regardless of our background.

By the Word: “In the volume of the BOOK it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God” (Heb.10:7b). God’s Word brings Revelation of Purpose. I cannot understand who I am and what I am meant to be, without referring to my “Owner’s Manual” – the Bible. God’s Word shows us the Master’s blueprint for our lives. I have an assignment. By Grace I will locate it, define it, write it, personalize it, pursue it, and fulfil it!