Voluntary devotion: August 17

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“[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and the grace, which he gave us in Jesus Christ before the ages began. – 2 Timothy 1: 9

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is purpose. Since the time of Adam, God has always specified the purposes for which we were created. In Genesis 1:28 (ESV) God said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and every living being that moves on the earth.” “

Over time our goals have changed, but God has made it clear that we are all to live useful and effective lives. Have you lived through days when you just go through the motions? Have you had days when you felt like it didn’t matter what you were doing? These days of my life are my worst times. I would rather endure trials and persecution with a purpose than live a meaningless day. It is for the purpose that we find satisfaction. In the goal, we discover that our lives matter. And in the purpose, we find out the reason why we were created.

Second Timothy 1: 9 (ESV) said, “[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and the grace, which he gave us in Jesus Christ before the ages began. Because of God’s grace and purpose, we have been called to a life of wonderful and satisfying works. The Bible teaches us a truth in opposition to the teachings of the world. The world says to work hard enough to live a life of comfort and ease. The work is done for the sake of relaxation and comfort. God says we are created for a life of eternal value in which everything we do must have a purpose greater than our own comfort and relaxation.

God has valued your life so much that you have yet to find out. He has a plan and a goal for your life that he hasn’t assigned to anyone else. Your life is meant to have an eternal impact for His Kingdom which will reign forever. But in his grace, he has also given you control over your own life. You can choose to live your life according to His designs or your own. And you can choose to seek comfort and insignificant relaxation, or a life of true rest and satisfaction that only comes from living wholly for God. My hope is that by examining two goals that God has for your life, you will choose to live your life completely with and for your Heavenly Father. And in doing so, you will discover the incredible joy and passion that the Spirit longs to be born in you.

The first purpose for which you were created is the relationship with God. Jesus says in Mark 12:30 (ESV), “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The Westminster Shorter Catechism says it this way: “The main purpose of man is to glorify God and to appreciate Him forever. Loving God is your highest calling, and by loving God you will experience the fullest joy and satisfaction available. When you stand before God in judgment, he will not seek goods, promotions, or social status, but rather the fervor with which you loved him. You will be rewarded for acts of love, not for selfish glorification. And this primary purpose of loving God is the only path to the abundant life He has in store for you here.

The second purpose for which you were created is to love others in response to your love for God. Mark 12:31 (ESV) says: “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” Ephesians 5: 1-2 (ESV) says: “Therefore be imitators of God, like beloved children.” And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a scented offering and a sacrifice to God. Acts 26:16 (ESV) said, “But arise and stand, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to call you a servant and witness of the things in which you have seen me and of those in which I will appear to you.”

We are called to love others by the incredible love that has been shown to us. As our hearts are filled with love for God as we meet him in the secret place, we will be filled with the desire to see his desires for others around us come true. God’s greatest desire is to have a relationship with His crown of creation, and He wants to use us to guide others to Him. As we love others, we will discover the incredible satisfaction of seeing the lost and wounded being found and healed. Incredible passion and joy come from seeing a life transformed by the Spirit at work in us.

How incredible is the grace of our God that his designs are rooted entirely in love. We are called to simply love Him and others with the very love that has been shown to us. He is like a father who gives his children money to buy him a present. He fills us with the love and joy he feels for us, and in response, we can love him and others. He fills you with the breath of life and patiently waits for you to live your life as a beautiful song of worship for Him.

May you experience all that the grace of God has granted you today. May you choose to live your life with a purpose and a passion that only comes from loving Him and others.

– Craig Denison, top 15

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