We looked at how Jesus provides us the tools we need to accomplish His will, so what's next? Well once we have the tools, we need to know our purpose. Here's the story from Mark 6:7-13 again.
And he called to the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in their belts - but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
This story is actually in the Bible several times (which tells you how important it is) and I feel the version from Matthew explains our purpose so let's look at Matthew 10:6-8, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons."
Jesus provided the disciples with a purpose. He sent them out to the lost to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. He also commanded them to heal sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. But look closely, these miraculous acts were not their primary purpose. Mark 6:11 says, "if they will not listen to you." Their main purpose was to proclaim that the King had come. The healing and other signs were to substantiate their message to the people, not their purpose.
So what is our purpose in life? Is it to be a good person, marry a good spouse, have a big house, nice car, or good career? Those may be things that happen in our life, but they are not our purpose.
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17
- Food, drink, house, and career aren't overly important, but how much time and energy do we spend focused on them?
- Life and purpose is to be about righteousness; holy, obedient living.
- We should be living for peace in our relationships with God and each other.
- We should live for joy, which is much deeper than the happiness that the 'stuff' of the world brings. Greg Laurie says, "The problem with happiness is that it's generally derived from accomplishments, accumulation, and, to some degree, through escape."
And he called to the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in their belts - but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
This story is actually in the Bible several times (which tells you how important it is) and I feel the version from Matthew explains our purpose so let's look at Matthew 10:6-8, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons."
Jesus provided the disciples with a purpose. He sent them out to the lost to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. He also commanded them to heal sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. But look closely, these miraculous acts were not their primary purpose. Mark 6:11 says, "if they will not listen to you." Their main purpose was to proclaim that the King had come. The healing and other signs were to substantiate their message to the people, not their purpose.
So what is our purpose in life? Is it to be a good person, marry a good spouse, have a big house, nice car, or good career? Those may be things that happen in our life, but they are not our purpose.
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17
- Food, drink, house, and career aren't overly important, but how much time and energy do we spend focused on them?
- Life and purpose is to be about righteousness; holy, obedient living.
- We should be living for peace in our relationships with God and each other.
- We should live for joy, which is much deeper than the happiness that the 'stuff' of the world brings. Greg Laurie says, "The problem with happiness is that it's generally derived from accomplishments, accumulation, and, to some degree, through escape."
Comments
Post a Comment