God's Great Purpose

Hey- Let's brainstorm a minute (some say for me that might look like one of those 30 second summer showers- one quick little burst then what?). Let's brainstorm about what God's Purpose for us might be-Why we are here. Some possibilities: God just wants us to be happy. We make Him happy. It all went wrong so He just wants to save us and get us to heaven. He's just playing with us- for His amusement. He wants to express His glory through us. He is using us as pawns in His great contest with the Evil one- Satan. No purpose- He just created us and set it all in motion to see what happens. Maybe we are just comic releif for His boredom. Maybe He's an ego-maniac and needs us to make Himself feel important. Maybe we are simply an outlet for His Love. Maybe it's because He is Creative at Heart and just had to express Himself. Maybe He is building something bigger and we get to be a part. In terms of how I live my life- I know what I say I believe- but which one of those ideas above would be the natural conclusion of an objective outside observor? Which one reveals the true state of my heart?

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's Purpose that prevails.

What about you- do you have children? If not, have you ever "created" or built anything? What were your motivations? Did it have anything to do with expressing who you are? Maybe that is a little of what it means to be made in His Image- That we have this inherent desire to express ourselves- To propogate our glory. There is a problem with that. It is not what we were made for. Our personal glory falls short. It can not bring us into the life we long for.

John 15: 5 Jesus said,"I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

I firmly believe we are made to be living, breathing expressions of God's Glory- that is- His Character- His Love - His Justice- His Goodness- All of who He is.

To the extent we live in that Great Purpose and advance His Great Purpose-His Kingdom- where ever He has placed us- we will live the Abundant Life Jesus Promised. I make it sound so complicated- I'm sorry Let me just put it this way- the Great Commandment

Luke 10:27 Love God- Be about Him in every possible way-This will bring us into His Great Purpose and the Life we long for.

And along with that-Do what He does. Love People- Live in Community-Knowing and Caring for those around us- much like His relationship in Father, Son and Spirit- Three in One

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we Love one another God lives in us and His Love is made complete in us.

Father God, never let me forget who I am in You- that in You I have my being. Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Be in me today- fill me to overflowing so that Your Life is expressed through even this jar of clay. Pour Ypurself through me so That I experience Your Life and it flows out to all I come in contact with. Use me to advance Your Character- Your Glory in my world. Pour Your Gospel through me- Your Love and Goodness and Grace. Help me to find my Life in all these things. Amen