WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE?
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 (ESV)
What is our purpose? One of the most fundamental questions that all human beings try to answer is to know and understand what their purpose in life is. As we get older, that question will continue to grow in magnitude and constantly be there as we decided our choices in education, jobs and how we live. In J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the old and wise Gandalf reminds Frodo that, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us”. The apostle Paul knows that his life is about to take a huge turn and he desires nothing more than to ‘finish the course’ well with the time given to him.
In Acts 20, Paul is giving the Ephesian elders one last bit of wisdom and comfort before he departs to Jerusalem to face “imprisonment and afflictions” (Acts 20:23). Paul is reminding these believers, and us too, that his purpose in life is obedience to Jesus. Years later, from his imprisoned dungeon in Rome, Paul continues to remind us to be “vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy” and to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2 Tim. 2:21-22).
Like Paul, God has a definite calling on our lives (2 Tim. 1:9). Whatever portion of God-given talent and ability we have, our calling continues to be the same as Paul. By His grace (1 Cor. 15:10), we are called not to value our lives but for this: to finish the race, the ministry and the calling we have received from Jesus. In the precious amount of time that has been given to us, our calling and purpose of life is to know Jesus more, be more like Him, and to bear witness to the gospel of God’s wonderful, saving grace. Paul knew this and he reminds the Ephesians (and us) in Acts 20 of that purpose.
Further study:
What is our purpose? One of the most fundamental questions that all human beings try to answer is to know and understand what their purpose in life is. As we get older, that question will continue to grow in magnitude and constantly be there as we decided our choices in education, jobs and how we live. In J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the old and wise Gandalf reminds Frodo that, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us”. The apostle Paul knows that his life is about to take a huge turn and he desires nothing more than to ‘finish the course’ well with the time given to him.
In Acts 20, Paul is giving the Ephesian elders one last bit of wisdom and comfort before he departs to Jerusalem to face “imprisonment and afflictions” (Acts 20:23). Paul is reminding these believers, and us too, that his purpose in life is obedience to Jesus. Years later, from his imprisoned dungeon in Rome, Paul continues to remind us to be “vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy” and to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2 Tim. 2:21-22).
Like Paul, God has a definite calling on our lives (2 Tim. 1:9). Whatever portion of God-given talent and ability we have, our calling continues to be the same as Paul. By His grace (1 Cor. 15:10), we are called not to value our lives but for this: to finish the race, the ministry and the calling we have received from Jesus. In the precious amount of time that has been given to us, our calling and purpose of life is to know Jesus more, be more like Him, and to bear witness to the gospel of God’s wonderful, saving grace. Paul knew this and he reminds the Ephesians (and us) in Acts 20 of that purpose.
Further study:
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- 2 Timothy 4:6-8
- Proverbs 21:21
- Romans 12:2
by Eric Adams, Deacon
Posted in Read Through the Bible
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