The basis of Rick Warren's best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life" is that we all have been put on this earth by God on purpose and with purpose...our base purpose being to bring glory to God. I believe that God has designed each of us uniquely and specifically for purpose right in the very spot that we have been placed. Ephesians 4:11 talks about how God has appointed each of us for different purposes within the church body...."It was he who 'gave gifts to people'; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers."
When Jesus talked about giving us His joy, and that we would be able to have complete joy, and since He was speaking those words as a follow up to His words on complete obedience, what I hear Him saying to me is, "Be what I designed you to be...nothing more, nothing less. Do what I lay before you to do...nothing more, nothing less. Do it in my name, to my glory. And you won't believe the joy you will find. My joy will be in you, and it will be a completely satisfying joy."
So often we set out in life uncertain of who we are to be, what we are to become. It is hard when you are younger to know which direction to take, and it is hard when you are older to know whether you've chosen the right course, or if you need to change your direction. Many times we make choices based upon other people's opinions, upon status, and upon financial gain. The older I get, and the more mature my faith becomes, I realize that those factors are exactly what we do not need to include in our life-path decisions.
God calls us to bring our plans to Him, to ask Him for His guidance in our life. He desires to be included, and He promises His wisdom when we ask for it. (Remember James 1:5 that we discussed last week?) He is ready to share with us exactly what He designed us for, the gifts that He has enabled us with to perform tasks that we are uniquely able to do, just where we are located, that need to be accomplished for His purposes. Life can become extremely invigorating and exciting when you start realizing that God is asking us to partner with Him to accomplish His will on this earth. His plans will take place...but we have a choice whether or not we participate.
Open your spiritual ears today to hear what it is that God has purposed for you to do for Him. When that event takes place, and you know you have just brought glory to God, there is not a doubt in my mind that you will feel a joy like no other. Jesus' joy...in you...complete.
When Jesus talked about giving us His joy, and that we would be able to have complete joy, and since He was speaking those words as a follow up to His words on complete obedience, what I hear Him saying to me is, "Be what I designed you to be...nothing more, nothing less. Do what I lay before you to do...nothing more, nothing less. Do it in my name, to my glory. And you won't believe the joy you will find. My joy will be in you, and it will be a completely satisfying joy."
So often we set out in life uncertain of who we are to be, what we are to become. It is hard when you are younger to know which direction to take, and it is hard when you are older to know whether you've chosen the right course, or if you need to change your direction. Many times we make choices based upon other people's opinions, upon status, and upon financial gain. The older I get, and the more mature my faith becomes, I realize that those factors are exactly what we do not need to include in our life-path decisions.
God calls us to bring our plans to Him, to ask Him for His guidance in our life. He desires to be included, and He promises His wisdom when we ask for it. (Remember James 1:5 that we discussed last week?) He is ready to share with us exactly what He designed us for, the gifts that He has enabled us with to perform tasks that we are uniquely able to do, just where we are located, that need to be accomplished for His purposes. Life can become extremely invigorating and exciting when you start realizing that God is asking us to partner with Him to accomplish His will on this earth. His plans will take place...but we have a choice whether or not we participate.
Open your spiritual ears today to hear what it is that God has purposed for you to do for Him. When that event takes place, and you know you have just brought glory to God, there is not a doubt in my mind that you will feel a joy like no other. Jesus' joy...in you...complete.
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