Monday, February 25, 2008
Purpose
In my small group from church we are doing a study of the book of Hebrews. Right now we're in chapter 11 - often known as the "hall of faith" chapter because it lists how people of old did things by their faith.... By faith Abraham went to sacrafice Issac, etc.
The study guide brought me to the following question: "Why were they willing to trust God?"
I thought about that for a second, reviewed the list of folks and realized one common thread to their actions. They all acted with purpose. Their acts of faith were based on a purpose. I know that much has been written recently on things of Purpose - Like Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.
When I think about what makes people successful, what moves people to great things, it consistently comes back to me that it is because they are living their lives for a purpose. Or at least, they are living that moment of their lives for a purpose - that which we now know them for.
I am sure that until this point, our current political candidates in the US were not living their lives for the purpose of becoming president - I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Though for now, they are now living for the passion of making this nation the best it can be, within their respective belief systems of exactly what that is. It took them living passionately with purpose in each segment of their lives to get them to this point.
What is the next point in our lives, and how do we get there? What our futures will amount to is based on where we set our purposes today. Do you want to acheive great things in 10 years? Set your purpose on acheiving something extraordinary, for you, today.
As Christians, we can of course set our sites on the purposes and promises God has poured on our lives. We must be careful to not be blinded by a search for grand "parting the Red Sea" purposes as those will come with time - but they are built on the immediate purposes of now - things God knows you can acheive but you may be unaware of. These are the daily promises and purposes he wants to see your grow to acheive. By striving for purpose in your life TODAY, you will grow into a greater purpose for tomorrow.
Striving for purpose in our lives, beleiving that God gives us promises for each and every day, and trusting that he wants to fulfill those things in our lives takes faith. It takes faith, even faith of miniscule porportions, to step out of our comfort zones, no matter how big or small they are. That faith is given to us and strenthed by God when we come to him and ask, when we seek him as a child.
"It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6
God is waiting to reward you with the precious gift of purpose and promise. Sincerly seek him and he will bless you today and each day until you look back and stare in awe at the path of promises he has fulfilled in your life.
In my small group from church we are doing a study of the book of Hebrews. Right now we're in chapter 11 - often known as the "hall of faith" chapter because it lists how people of old did things by their faith.... By faith Abraham went to sacrafice Issac, etc.
The study guide brought me to the following question: "Why were they willing to trust God?"
I thought about that for a second, reviewed the list of folks and realized one common thread to their actions. They all acted with purpose. Their acts of faith were based on a purpose. I know that much has been written recently on things of Purpose - Like Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.
When I think about what makes people successful, what moves people to great things, it consistently comes back to me that it is because they are living their lives for a purpose. Or at least, they are living that moment of their lives for a purpose - that which we now know them for.
I am sure that until this point, our current political candidates in the US were not living their lives for the purpose of becoming president - I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Though for now, they are now living for the passion of making this nation the best it can be, within their respective belief systems of exactly what that is. It took them living passionately with purpose in each segment of their lives to get them to this point.
What is the next point in our lives, and how do we get there? What our futures will amount to is based on where we set our purposes today. Do you want to acheive great things in 10 years? Set your purpose on acheiving something extraordinary, for you, today.
As Christians, we can of course set our sites on the purposes and promises God has poured on our lives. We must be careful to not be blinded by a search for grand "parting the Red Sea" purposes as those will come with time - but they are built on the immediate purposes of now - things God knows you can acheive but you may be unaware of. These are the daily promises and purposes he wants to see your grow to acheive. By striving for purpose in your life TODAY, you will grow into a greater purpose for tomorrow.
Striving for purpose in our lives, beleiving that God gives us promises for each and every day, and trusting that he wants to fulfill those things in our lives takes faith. It takes faith, even faith of miniscule porportions, to step out of our comfort zones, no matter how big or small they are. That faith is given to us and strenthed by God when we come to him and ask, when we seek him as a child.
"It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6
God is waiting to reward you with the precious gift of purpose and promise. Sincerly seek him and he will bless you today and each day until you look back and stare in awe at the path of promises he has fulfilled in your life.
Outbursts of Love & Good Deeds
How often does your life encourage others not only to good deeds and to care for each other, but specifically to OUTBURSTS of these things?
Tonight I had a chance to sit down and have time to myself and a "quite time" with God. In my small group from church we've been going through Hebrews and tonight brought me here...
"Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have. For God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." - Hebrews 10:23,24
OUTBURSTS
If you think about a water balloon or a pipe bursting, this is what our actions should encourage. While it is nice to make someone smile, how much greater is it when something we start sets up an incredible outburst of love and good things? Today our world is so full of negative stories, pessimism, and dark deeds. We desperately long for true goodness and love. This reminds me of my personal favorite verse...
"Beloved, our love should not be just words and talk. It must be true love which shows itself in action and in truth." I John 3:18
Not just words and talk - but action & truth.
How much better would the world be TODAY if someone was encouraged because of a wave of joy and love that flooded into them.
An outburst of love & good deeds.
How often does your life encourage others not only to good deeds and to care for each other, but specifically to OUTBURSTS of these things?
Tonight I had a chance to sit down and have time to myself and a "quite time" with God. In my small group from church we've been going through Hebrews and tonight brought me here...
"Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have. For God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." - Hebrews 10:23,24
OUTBURSTS
If you think about a water balloon or a pipe bursting, this is what our actions should encourage. While it is nice to make someone smile, how much greater is it when something we start sets up an incredible outburst of love and good things? Today our world is so full of negative stories, pessimism, and dark deeds. We desperately long for true goodness and love. This reminds me of my personal favorite verse...
"Beloved, our love should not be just words and talk. It must be true love which shows itself in action and in truth." I John 3:18
Not just words and talk - but action & truth.
How much better would the world be TODAY if someone was encouraged because of a wave of joy and love that flooded into them.
An outburst of love & good deeds.
