Value Your purpose

Understand what your purpose is and value it. Don’t waste your life looking at what God may have called everyone else to do and sit there and do nothing because you wish for God to use you as much as the others!

Let’s look at John 1:29-34.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Verse 33 is key- John outlines that the Lord told him that the Messiah is essentially ‘the man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain…’ .

John knew his purpose. He knew he was sent to baptize and to prepare the way  for the Messiah and that is exactly what he did. But notice, John knew exactly what He was called to do and there was no hint of ‘I wish I was the Messiah, why is my purpose only to prepare the way?’. No dear reader, don’t have this attitude towards the different things God may have for your life’s purpose. Do exactly what He tells you , and do so joyfully! Your purpose may not be as ‘super’ as the Christian beside you, but you may have a similar calling like John the Baptist! Preparing the way for someone to whom God has given a different purpose.

You never see parents bitter because of the hard work they put in to give their children a better life. Then why be bitter while fulfilling your purpose for the sake of the kingdom of God even if it may not be as ‘impactful’ or ‘well-noticed’ as you would like?

Take Timothy for instance. In 2 Timothy 1:5 we read of how Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois instilled faith in him.

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

But that’s all we hear about these ladies! These ladies would most likely have changed Timothy’s diapers, clothed and bathed him, taught him how to read and write and taught him the gospel. But that’s about it. Now , tell me, if they had not fulfilled their purpose in Timothy’s life with joy because they weren’t ‘changing the world’ they could have lost motivation to continue to teach Timothy the gospel along the way!

I hope you now see how important it is for you to not only know your purpose, but to fulfill it with joy. Understand that you may be a John the Baptist, Lois or Eunice, but your purpose matters to God. And if it matters to God, it’s worth fulfilling with joy and the Lord will surely reward you.