Calling and Purpose 16—Some Scriptural Guidance
Jesus says ““…I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14). This is also settled for us, too, as His followers. We know our origins and our eternal future.
Jesus was also clear on His purpose while on this earth—to reconcile us to God through his life, death, and resurrection. He did many things along the way—teaching and preaching the good news, healing, raising the dead, loving and welcoming, correcting—but all of those things fit His larger, overarching purpose. And, He was faithful to that purpose: He said: “Father…I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).
What is your overarching purpose? The reason for which you are uniquely designed and placed here on earth for this season?
Other Scriptures speak to purpose:
“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted’” (Job 42:2). After all that Job has been through and his significant conversation/encounter with God, Job has a strong sense of God’s sovereignty over all things. We can rest assured that, as we pursue our God-designed purpose, that God Himself will make us able and will see that His purpose is not thwarted.
In Isaiah 46:9b-11 the Lord says to His people “…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ …What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” We get the clear sense from God Almighty that He is in charge—that His purposes succeed. Again, reassurance for us—that we are NOT in charge and don’t have to be!
This is reiterated by the writer of Proverbs: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). Yes, we can make plans, but God’s purposes are what gets accomplished.
And, in Luke 7, Jesus talks about John—as the messenger sent out ahead to prepare the way for The Messiah—Jesus. Jesus confirms that was John’s purpose on earth. At the end of that section of Scripture we see: “All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John” (Luke 7:24-30). We have free will in this. We can reject God’s purpose for ourselves—or embrace it and pursue it—with the Lord’s help, guidance, wisdom, and empowerment.
As you reflect on what God’s purpose for you might be, how do your God-given spiritual gifts help shape the who, the where, and the scope of that purpose?
If you aren’t familiar with your gifts, take the free online assessment.
For more on these subjects, see the Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog. Check out other resources and a six-week workbook at GodGiftsYou.com.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.