“But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
Purpose.
We strive to know our purpose.
Why were we created? What are we here for? What is our purpose right now?
As we reach VCE we can’t help but wonder and contemplate this topic of purpose.
Parents, teachers, principals, career advisors, and others begin to demand we make decisions that will apparently, “lead us down our career path for the rest of our lives”. When we choose subjects, refine our skills in certain pursuits, and reflect on things we like and things we don’t, we start trying to work out this thing called purpose.
I’m not sure about you but I found it hard to decide what subjects I should be doing when going through VCE. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what might help me in five years time. Five years time! That’s a fair while away!
As time to decide these things came closer it all began to get overwhelming. The more pressure applied, the more indecisive I felt. I mean, it was hard enough to decide what subject to choose the following year, let alone what university course I’d like to do or work I wanted to undertake post-study. Give me a break. Why all this pressure on decision-making, purpose, and career?
But the way the game of life works right now, and has done for a number of years, is that we are to be educated for a long period of time, expected to get a job immediately post-study, make some money, buy some things, continue making money to pay for those said things, and then retire and read a good book. The underlying effect of this is that we are told there is one path to trod. One particular destiny in life. One particular purpose.
Throughout the bible we see plenty of people called to various roles. Some are called to lead, some are called to submit, some are called to life on the road, some are called to ransack cities, some are called to be kings, some are called to speak into other people’s lives on behalf of God.
There are plenty of people who have been called to particular things in particular places for a particular purpose.
We are also called.
And first and foremost, we are called by God to himself.
That is, God woos us and calls us to come and know him.
To come and worship him.
To come and love him.
We are called to come and follow.
Jesus, when beginning his work here on earth, called twelve men to follow him. The phrase “follow me” should be self-evident, it is Jesus calling people to follow him. A life of following what he does and what he teaches.
If we describe ourselves as Christians – people who believe Jesus is the Son of God, who has died and risen for the forgiveness of sin and where true life can be realised – then we are called to follow him.
A question for you at this point would be, are you following him?
In regard to purpose, at its most base level it is simply to follow Jesus.
He is our guide, our leader, our captain, our coach.
Any worthwhile captain or coach is one who inspires, motives, encourages, disciples, and leads people to a better place, to a place that changes and transforms them for the better.
Jesus is that captain.
Jesus is that coach.
FOR REFLECTION
- Is purpose something you’ve been thinking about in recent months or years? How do you react to such thoughts?
- What or who do you think you are following right now?
- Are you following Jesus? Would you like to?
This is part of a devotional series called You’re More Than A Number. To understand the purpose of these posts then please read the series introduction. If you’d like these delivered to your inbox, please sign up to follow this blog or my FB page.
Day 1 – You Are Created
Day 2 – You Are Sinful
Day 3 – You Are Forgiven
Life and Faith 
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