THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN LIFE IS NOT DEATH, BUT A LIFE WITHOUT A PURPOSE.
Myles Monroe
IF WE DON’T KNOW THE PURPOSE OF A THING, WE WILL ABUSE THE THING!
THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN LIFE IS NOT DEATH, BUT A LIFE WITHOUT A PURPOSE.
Myles Monroe
“I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME.” Philippians 3:12b (NIV)
Jesus is the author of eternal life (Hebrews 5:9). Without eternal life we cannot practice the purpose of God. We have to be authored! The Apostle Paul compares the Christian walk to running a race. He trained his mind and body to live submitted to Jesus in order to run his race. In Hebrews 12:2 Paul teaches us how: “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector (or “finisher” in KJV) of your faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NIV)
To practice God’s purpose, we need to give the author and perfector of our lives hands-on authority in our daily life. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for this purpose. Reading through the Gospel of John 14-16, we discover that the Holy Spirit’s purpose in our earth race is to teach, lead, and comfort us. In other words, the Holy Spirit fathers us in this race. He positions us to fulfill the purpose of God as Jesus taught it: “that we might have life and it abundantly.”
From the root word translated authority comes the basic idea of someone’s ability to author something. Jesus authors His purpose in our lives by God’s Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit. To practice God’s purpose, we must fix our eyes on Him. This requires discipline.
Like running a race, this discipline requires “throwing off everything that hinders and entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). The Gospel of Matthew narrows the race to “seeking first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Everything we need comes from seeking His purpose. Yes, the devil throws hindrances and entanglements at us but consider I John 3:8 and the revelation of Jesus’ purpose. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work!”
The author and finisher of our faith destroyed the power of the devil! Yet Paul writes to the Ephesians that “our struggle is against rulers, against the authorities, against the power of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
What’s the key? Glad you asked. Paul continues in Philippians 3:13-14 with the answer:“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” In other words, the answer brings us full circle to Hebrews 12:1 “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Our purpose requires allowing Him to be author and finisher of our daily race!
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