Discovering Purpose

DISCOVERING PURPOSE

Part one of two

Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

            In the nineteen sixties and seventies, young adults travelled the country in an effort to “find themselves.”  Sometimes this happened after graduating from high school or college.  Childhood was in their rear-view mirror.  Growing up didn’t sound like fun.  I imagine God laughing out loud at the people trying to “find themselves.”  Were they lost?

            Yes! 

            Are you lost?

         Jesus calls people to find themselves by taking up their crosses and follow Him.  They are joyful, content and at peace.  They know who they are and whose they are.  Believers know that God has a purpose for them, and use the gifts God gives them—clues to their life’s purpose.

            1 Corinthians 7:7b says, “But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”  2 Corinthians 8:11-12 points out:  “the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to  what one does not have…Now finish the work, [one’s purpose], so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.”

              Jesus followers are not jealous of other’s gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 assures us: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  (The lesson linked below lists some of these gifts).

            But, whoever has no clue what is their life’s purpose, finding Jesus is the first step.  Jesus is God’s Son who came to earth to save people from certain eternal death.

 

            Every person is born into sin (Romans 5:12)—and Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death!  But Jesus died so He could offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to whomever believes in Him as Lord.  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes from Christ Jesus.” 

            How can my sins be forgiven?  1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess with our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

            Regardless of the sin!

Take Home Nugget

            Hell is eternal death.  How can we get saved for eternal life?  “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”   (Romans 10:9). 

Jesus, I’m not lost—exactly.  But I don’t know exactly where I’m going, either. 

J.D. Griffith

                                                                                   

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Discovering Purpose

Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.