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You Have a Purpose:
God Has Great Plans for You
You Can Make a Difference. Your Life Counts!
(c) 2001, 2005 Doug Britton (Permission granted to print for personal use)
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do Ephesians 2:10).
Introduction: What you do matters. There is a purpose for your life.
Note: This study is adapted from the book Who Do You Think You Are?
Many people go through life feeling discouraged about themselves and thinking they do not have a purpose in life. But that's not true. Whoever you are—whatever your life experiences, talents, physical ability, or role—you have a purpose.
Let's take a look at one of my favorite verses in the Bible:
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:1).Notice two points in this verse:
1. God created you. You are not an accident.
2. God has a plan for you. You have a purpose in life.
You are created to know God.
One purpose in life is to get close to God. You can do this through Jesus Christ.
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3).
I am the bread of life (John 6:35).
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).
Would you like to learn more about how to know God?
Click here for a Bible study on being reconciled with God (known as "salvation" or being "born again").
You are created for God's glory.
One purpose in life is to glorify God in this world.
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made (Isaiah 43:6-7).
You are created to praise God.
One purpose in life is to praise and worship God.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O lord; they will bring glory to your name (Psalm 86:9).
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever (Psalm 86:12).
You are created to grow the fruit of the Spirit.
One purpose in life is to grow in character.
The type of person you become is more important than your successes and failures in the world.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
You are created to spread the Gospel.
One purpose in life is to tell others about Jesus' love for them.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples (Psalm 96:3).<-p>
Make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted (Isaiah 12:4).
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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).
You are created to use the talents God gave you.
One purpose in life is to develop your gifts.
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8).
Do not minimize your role.
Live life as an adventure—wherever you are.
All Christians collectively form the body of Christ. The body is formed of many different parts (Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). All are important. It does not matter what part of the body you are.On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it (1 Corinthians 12:22-24).Overcome jealousy or bitterness.
Don't be upset if you do not have a place of prominence, for, as you read in the above verse, God gives special honor to people with "less honorable" roles.Do not downplay the value of what you do.
Don't compare yourself to others or give up if someone seems to do a better job than you. Of course there are others who have more talent! If all the evangelists or witnesses or teachers in the world decided to stop trying because someone else did a better job, where would we be?What counts is that you be faithful.
God gave you talents and abilities. He expects you to develop them. Study Matthew 25:14-30.
Personal application
Have you felt purposeless in life? ___ Yes ___ No
How will you use the above information to live a more purposeful life?
Your next step: Live life as an adventure.
Click here for a Bible study on living life as an adventure. This study can revolutionize your life.
Click below for more information about your purpose in life.
• Who Do You Think You Are?More resources
• Conquering Depression: A Journey Out of Darkness into God's Light
• Healing Life's Hurts: God's Solutions When Others Hurt You
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