What does the Bible actually have to say about purpose? I asked this question after starting a blog aimed at helping others find their purpose. Admittedly, not my best move as a blogger. I decided to take a deep dive into the Bible to help answer that ubiquitous question about purpose. I wasn’t far into my deep dive before discovering that I had gotten it all wrong. As it turned out, I was focusing on the wrong thing and asking the wrong questions. And you might be too.
It’s not surprising that there are so many of us seeking an answer to the question what is my purpose. Our society is obsessed with progress, performance, and achievement, and, frankly, I think we’re uncomfortable with someone else getting the credit for our hard work. We’re uncomfortable admitting that it’s not our purpose that really matters, it’s God’s.
So rather than agonizing over finding and pursuing our purpose, what if we were more earnest about finding ways to partner with God’s purpose?
What is Our Purpose?
When we ask the question what is my purpose we are often seeking an explanation for our existence. We’re asking God why He created us and what He has specifically designed us to do with our lives.
In order to answer those questions we have to get really comfortable with one simple fact. That fact? God didn’t need us. He wanted us. The trinity existed in perfect love before humans came along and if that’s true our existence was purposed simply to be an extension of that love. If God doesn’t need us, He simply created us out of a desire to know and love us I think our purpose is pretty clear: to be loved and extend love to others.
Mind blown?
In a moment I want to explore the unique works that each of us can play a part in as a member of God’s family, but first I want to dig into some scripture about purpose to really drive home this idea of being created simply to know and extend love.
God has Purpose, We are His Partners
Have you ever looked up the word purpose in the Bible? If you have, you may have noticed that the only verse that comes remotely close to talking about an individual’s purpose is Jeremiah 29:11. In most versions, this verse states that God has “plans” for our lives. I’ve yet to see a version that mentions God’s purpose for our lives.
If you were seeking to find scripture on the topic of purpose what you would find is that the word purpose is preceded by a noun or pronoun. Meaning, it’s God’s purpose or the Lord’s purpose or His purpose that scripture is concerned with. Let’s look at a few examples.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV, emphasis mine).
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV, emphasis mine).
These verses lead me to the conclusion that pursuing purpose might be the wrong thing. The better question to ask when seeking a life of fulfillment and accomplishment? God how can I partner with your purpose?
God’s Purpose, My Calling
In an effort to find ways to partner with God I continued my deep dive into scripture. I was convinced that purpose was the wrong thing to be pursuing but I wasn’t convinced that our gifts and talents and ambition were pointless.
In the midst of my scriptural deep dive I found solace in Ephesians 4:1, “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”. That word calling really stuck out to me. I had searched for purpose and found a verse about calling.
Could this be the substitute for the pursuit of purpose?
Could this be the thing that activated gifts and talents and partnership with God?
Immediately, I set to work finding out what Ephesians 4:1 meant. I started by seeking a definition for calling. Beyond some definitions claiming a calling is a job, or vocation I found a definition in the Miriam Webster Dictionary that really stood out to me, “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence”.
I latched on to this definition because it recognized “divine influence”, or the involvement of a higher power in our calling. The involvement of God. In addition to a dictionary definiton I knew I needed to consult God’s Word on the concept of calling.
The New Testament has many commissions to embrace our calling in Christ. It is in Matthew 28:19 that we see our calling laid out plain, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
Of course! All of us are called to go out and make disciples. But not all of us are equipped or prepared to make disciples in the same way.
What is My Calling?
Now that I had found a solid substitute for the concept of purpose, I got to work on deciphering what it means for each member of Christ’s Body to have a calling.
It’s not surprising that the book of Ephesians has ample instruction on the who, what and how of spiritual gifts. Just a few verses after extending the commission to “live a life worthy of your calling,” the Apostle Paul mentions spiritual gifts. Coincidence? I think not!
God made us simply to love and be loved, but He didn’t make us all with the same gifts, talents, abilities, and passions then surely this idea of calling preserves that concept of wanting to be created for something important and impactful!
What Now?
The book of Ephesians totally flipped by concept of purpose on it’s head. A dive deep into the Bible revealed that I had been pursuing the wrong thing. Instead of partnering with God and asking Him where He was calling me and how He had uniquely designed me to go out and make disciples of all nations I had been seeking a self-centered purpose in life.
With a new understanding of what a calling is and how we each have a unique means of fulfilling our calling in Christ I changed my focus entirely. I rebranded my blog and got to work spreading this message as far and wide as possible.
It has been such a game changer to follow God’s lead and tune into my unique calling. And I want that game changing experience for you too!
What Now?
I hope this post empowers you to embrace your calling and pursue God’s purpose in all things. You were created uniquely and called specifically to do great things for God’s kingdom. Tune into God’s voice, align your ambitions with His heart and you can’t go wrong.
Still a little confused? I love helping women find confidence and clarity in their God-given calling. If you’ve been confused about what your purpose, calling or assignment is let’s chat!
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