Recognizing Purpose

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.  1 Corinthians 3:8-9

People have said that I am a tireless worker.  I’m the person who hardly ever calls off and struggles at times to use all his leave time.  This is not a badge of honor.  It is just what I feel I must do, and it does not make me any better than anyone else.  In fact, people who take time off to stay home with their children or have great vacations during their leave time have a lot of my admiration.  That being said, my parents instilled this strong work ethic in me, and to a degree, it drives one of my God intended purposes in life; to be there for others in need.

We all have a purpose that is God intended.  God has watched and prepared us through situation and circumstances so that when the time comes, we would know what His purpose for our life is.  Many of us are fearful of that very thing.  I truly understand that belief because my greatest fear is of the unknown.  However, our God is truly amazing, and He has proven time after time after time that He knows better than us.  So while we may be fearful of what God’s purpose for our life is, we must be courageous to act on it for as today’s verse points out, we are in God’s service.

God has a plan for us all!  My mom finished her Master’s Degree from an Ivy League school writing theses from a hospital bed and raising a thirteen year old child through his freshman year of high school.  How you might ask?  She would tell you it was because God willed her to do it.  God’s purpose for our lives centers on our understanding that as Rick Warren says, “It’s not about you.”  Don’t just accept God’s purpose for you.  Embrace it.  What is God prompting you to act on?  How are you living out God’s intentional purpose?  My prayer is that we have clarity to recognize the purpose God has for our lives.  Amen.