What’s the reason for your next breath?
Let’s look at God’s Purpose for you.
Jesus said: “I have appeared to you for this purpose…” Acts 26:16
Christian, what is your purpose?
We addressed some core areas with the last two posts on Conviction & Jesus living “in” you.
If you missed them I encourage you highly to go back & read them, before you read this devotional. Otherwise your questions will cloud your understanding on this post.
So how do we finish these series of posts with a proper ending? I think it is to look at “why are you alive?” We all have said at some point in our lives “why am I here?”
Paul said “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
Yet we dig our stinky fleshly foot into the ground and say “No!” That’s dangerous because ”we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2nd Cor 5:10
We say we want to please God. The Bible says that the efforts of doing such will produce Crowns being given to you by God.
Jesus talked about people being given gifts of money and then when He returned He wanted to see what interest/increase that each person had made with those gifts. Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
But how can you increase something that you don’t know exist? The gifts given to you can’t be given unless you have - not your good educated natural self, but instead Gods Supernatural power of ability. Then the gifts become an outreach of Jesus who is (or supposed) to be living in you.
You wonder at that point where to go for His service and He’s promised to lead you in the right direction: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’ ” (Isaiah 30:21).
Our Christian purpose is to be made alive in Christ, to have Jesus live “in” and through us, and to do the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Yet our specific individual callings & gifts are your tailor made opportunities from Jesus to serve Jesus, for recognition (good or bad) on Judgment day.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Rom 12:1
“always giving ourselves full to the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
James tells us, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26).
Jesus tells us, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).
Paul was a man who repented daily and as such had Jesus living “in” and through him. The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go…” (John 15:16). Chambers
It is important to know that a Christians calling is “Not” to go to Church. It is instead it is primarily to love & serve Christ above all people or organizations. Yes Church fellowship has a part of a believers life, but Church today is different than the Biblical model. Either way, Christ must come first.
Above all things there must be a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a Church. Paul said “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
As my days grow short in having Church building or weather talk, I often move to a few question as I smile & drink coffee with other long time Church going folk.
I ask “hey I’m wondering, how did your last Fast go?” I also ask “todays a beautiful day in the Lord, can I pray for you & your Spiritual gifts? What are they?”
Sometimes I say “Mercy, I still remember how my heart got like an electric wave of love when I asked & received the Baptism of God. It radically changed my Christian life. When after Salvation did you get Baptized in God the Holy Spirit?” Or “I’ve been struggling over some sins in my left. I’ve repented to God , but the Bible tells me to confess them to others and have you pray for me. Then you can confess your sins to me and I will pray for you, ok?”
As you can guess, soon I’m just alone having coffee with Jesus & nobody else. Not even the Pastor.
Each of you are breathing air for a distinct specific purpose or a few purposes for Jesus?
Before you take your next breath - what are they? Have you asked Him? Have you Fasted to see? Do you even care?
If you do care & know, then “Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that you are serving is Christ.” Col 3:24
Matthew 16:27 says:
“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 says:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
These are all good Bible quotes from God, to reflect upon today.
Pastor
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