"What's my Purpose?" | For Such a Time as This (Part 1)

A common question we often ask God and ourselves is:

"What's my purpose?" or "What's my calling in life?"

We all have the same purpose, but different callings or assignments. In other words, God has given each of us the same purpose, but the way in which we execute that purpose will be fulfilled through our assignments. Our purpose here in this life extends beyond ourselves; it is solely for the advancement of God's Kingdom and for it to be made manifest here on earth as it already is in heaven. It is to go out and fulfill the Great Commission, which is to make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world and to those around us so that they may be reconciled back to God. (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15).

Along with our purpose is the requirement to live according to the principles and standards of God. This isn't a call to perfection, but we must seek to live a life that pleases God while being stripped of everything that's not like Him. This process is ongoing and will continue to be exercised throughout our faith walk for the rest of our lives. God's intention for this ongoing process is to cleanse us and to bring glory to His name.

How are we cleansed? Through the Word of God! This is important because it directly affects our ability to present the Gospel to others. God doesn't desire for us to go out into the world without knowledge or revelation of His Word taking root in our hearts and lives. We must reflect Jesus in a way that mimics His nature. I love this scripture from 2 Timothy 3. It explains this process so well:

"All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

This scripture tells us that God's word is profitable for a few things:

1. Instruction

God's Word was designed to instruct us on many things in life including the way we live, how we should handle relationships, finances, etc. It is literally the guide to our lives concerning God's intention of how we should operate in the earth.

2. Conviction of sin

We need conviction of our sins against God. Not for condemnation, harsh judgment or to make ourselves feel bad, but for the sole purpose of becoming more like christ and understanding that God is holy and that He hates sin. It is only through conviction of our sin against Him that we are able to know His heart. Once we know His heart, it will move us to desire change.

3. Correction

It is essential that we look at God's word as a mirror to ourselves, allowing it to correct the errors we see in our personal lives. God corrects and disciplines those whom He loves. Though it is often a hard pill to swallow, we must submit to His correction so that we can walk in obedience, showing up in a way that is pleasing to Him. Correction from God is likened to correction and discipline from a parent. Hebrews 12:11(CSB) reminds us that, "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." This scripture brings us to the last point.

4. Training in righteousness

The word of God is an effective tool that trains us in righteousness. Training in righteousness yields great fruit in our character development. God's standard for all who follow Him is a righteous life: a life above reproach. Simply put, living a life above reproach protects our image as light-bearers (carrying the light and nature of Christ). Our character in both public and private settings should be the same, not confusing those who are on the outside looking in. We should always keep in mind that others are watching us and observing if we are "practicing what we preach."

It is through the scriptures and our personal yielding to God's spirit that we will grow in the areas mentioned above. The Word of God helps to establish us so that we are trained and ready to be used by God. If we don't allow God to do the necessary work in us for growth, we will be ineffective for His kingdom, ultimately hindering His purpose from being done through us.

It is very common for us to get purpose and assignment confused with one another, so in part two, we will discuss the difference between our purpose and our unique God-given assignments. Additionally, we will dive deeper into how focusing on our limitations can delay obedience to God's call on our lives.

Stay tuned for part two!

It takes a journey to get to the promise!

---

Say this prayer

"God, I thank You that my purpose in this life is to make known Your Kingdom so that others may know You. Help me to bring You glory by living a life that pleases You. Let Your word be my guide and not this world. Help me to yield to Godly instruction, conviction of sin, correction of error, and training in righteousness, so that as You use me, others will see the fruit of my obedience to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."

---

Want to rededicate or give your life to Christ? Click here to view the salvation prayer on our resources page.