GREAT EXPECTATIONS

"I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." (Psalms 57:2).

Introduction

Understanding God's purpose is the key to understanding ourselves. For instance, the if you have ever assembled sheets of metal, screws, a rubber ring, and a lever arm without knowing what the end result is meant to be, you might end up with an assemblage of parts that is meaningless to you. Similarly, if you do not know and understand God's purpose and the extent of His plan for you and the entire human race, you may end up feeling lost, confused, or just longing for something to help you make sense of it all. 

David writes, "for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy." (Psalms 63:7). How can you get to that place of deep understanding of God's purpose for your life? Where, instead of wandering aimlessly through life, you’re actually singing for joy or making a joyful noise?

The benefits of understanding God's purpose are to know the truth of your life instead of living in uncertainty and confusion, to appreciate the value and potential of what we are making, and to help others understand their purpose in life too. When this is achieved, it is the understanding that God has a purpose for everything He does. This understanding is our guide to why He does what He does and what His smaller plans are within His total purpose for each of us. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Our reflection now is on "Understanding God's Purpose." As we delve into the scriptures, we are reminded of the divine plan that guides our lives and the significance of aligning ourselves with it.

Bible Exploration

In Exodus 20:1-17, we encounter the Ten Commandments, which lay the foundation for a righteous life. These commandments not only provide us with moral guidance but also reveal God's purpose for His people – to live in harmony with Him and with one another. As we strive to follow these commandments, we align ourselves with God's will and experience the blessings that come from obedience.

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, we are reminded that the message of the cross may seem foolish to the world, but it is the power of God to those who believe. God's purpose, as revealed through the cross, is to reconcile humanity to Himself and to each other. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are offered forgiveness, redemption, and the opportunity to experience abundant life in fellowship with God.

The passage from John 2:13-22 recounts Jesus' cleansing of the temple, a powerful demonstration of his zeal for God's house. In this act, Jesus reveals his authority and underscores the importance of true worship. God's purpose for His temple – both the physical structure and our own bodies – is that they be dedicated to worship and service. When we allow worldly concerns to clutter our hearts and minds, we hinder our ability to fully understand and fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

Signs of Living Outside of God's Purpose

Let me begin by saying the obvious. If you’re blatantly disobeying the Bible - the Word of God, you’re not living in God’s purpose and you will certainly experience a sense of aimlessness in your life. 

Also, a lack of joy in your life is an indication of not living in the understanding of God's purpose (Gal. 5:22). Joy is fruit of the Spirit, and in fact, without the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life is sure evidence that you may be living outside of God's purpose.

Solomon says, "And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Precious one, would you say that you find joy in your life and work? If not, you may need to rethink where you’re heading.

Another sign is a sense of feeling stuck in life. If you desperately want a change but also feel totally stuck in your life, that’s almost certainly a sign that you’re not walking according to God’s purpose. Those who are stuck want to go in a particular direction but don’t know how to get there. So they accelerate their wheels, pull themselves up, and do all that they can, feeling endlessly frustrated but unsure of how to make the frustration end. My dear, do you feel trapped?

Let me end this by saying that if you don’t know God’s purpose for your life, you constantly feel a sense of aimlessness. You feel as though you’re wandering from one thing to another without any meaningful progress. Nothing excites you and you don’t have any specific goals you’re working toward. Unlike the Israelites, who wandered for 40 years yet still had a goal (the Promised Land), you don’t even have a goal in front of you.

Regaining Understanding of God's Purpose

In his book “The Lord of the Rings,” J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a poem that included the line, “Not all who wander are lost.” The same applies to you, precious one. Even though you feel like you’re wandering and stacked without any true purpose, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost completely. You can regain your sense of purpose and discover what God has for your life.

So, how do we come to understand God's purpose? It begins with a humble heart and a willingness to seek Him in prayer and study of His Word. As we immerse ourselves in scripture, we gain insight into His character, His desires for us, and His plan for the world. We also cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit, who guides us in discerning God's will and empowers us to live it out.

Understanding God's purpose is not always easy. At times, it may require us to relinquish our own plans and desires in favor of His higher calling. Yet, as we trust in His wisdom and sovereignty, we find true fulfillment and joy in fulfilling His purpose for our lives.

Conclusion

Let us commit ourselves anew to understanding and embracing God's purpose. May we be obedient to His commandments, faithful to the message of the cross, and devoted to worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. And may our lives bear witness to the transformative power of God's purpose at work within us.

Amen.

Shalom aleikhem...