Walking In Purpose

Exhortation Column

Introduction

What does it really mean to walk in purpose? It starts with handing your life over to Jesus every day and letting Him lead you step by step. When you do that, you’ll find a strength you didn’t expect and a kind of fulfillment that only comes from Him—just waiting for you to discover.

Outside of Jesus there is but futility, for what does a man gain without Christ? Scripture declares that all things will pass away except God's word (Matt 24:35 NIV). As believers we are called to live out God's Word in our lives. Because in it there is correction, exhortation, and encouragement (2 Tim 3:16). We discover what the Lord wants to communicate to us. How we should live our lives with others. The Bible is a guidebook for believers on their journey towards heaven. I once saw a post that read: B.I.B.L.E stands for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. Indeed it is! In Proverbs 4: 20-21 we read of a father urging his son to heed his words, for they are life and health. How much more if we heed the words of the Lord?

Jesus, the Ultimate Purpose.

How can you let Jesus lead you when you do not know what he is saying? When you do not know his teaching? You must first hear of him through his word. You must first believe, you must first put your faith in him. You cannot do that without ever having heard of him. So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV). Once you find Christ you find purpose, you no longer live for self but for something greater, and this something is worth the sacrifice. you gain much more than the world could ever give you. Jesus is the purpose that transcends anything the world can give you. You gain much more, even in death God's word can never fail (Luke 1:37 NIV). For the Lord Jesus himself said: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9: 24.

Jesus Christ is the word of God that never fails, the glorious son who lived among us (John 1:14) that through him we might know our purpose. For in him, we are all children of God by faith (Gal 3:26 NIV). In other words, you live for something far greater than your desires and what the world can offer you. It's no longer about the trivial things of life but your identity. It's about who you are and what does that mean? As a believer, who you are is wrapped up in who Christ is, the ultimate purpose. Because he died, your sinful self also must die, and because he rose from the dead and claim victory of sin; You too, must rise, with a new life in Christ Jesus, a life defined in victory over sin. As Paul puts it: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20 NIV).

Walking in purpose is more than just knowing Jesus and his word but living it. It's about actively trusting in the Lord and what he says concerning your life. In provers 3:5-6 we are told not to lean into our own understanding but in all our ways to submit to him, and by this submission our paths are made straight. That means submitting your marriage, future, finances, projects, prospects, business, children, relationships, community and every other aspect of your life to him.

What does submission look like?

It is important to know the Lord Jesus and his Word and make him your ultimate joie de vivre, but equally as important is practicing the word. There is practical wisdom in the word of God, the kind the world can only dream of giving you. The word of God exposes your very soul in order to bring you correction. It encourages you when you are doing right. It exhorts your spirit, strengthens your resolve in serving God. It tells you how to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. The Word of God becomes a reality when you begin to live by it, true purpose is revealed in obedience and submission. The Bible tells us that whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31 NIV). We know that sin and faithlessness do not glorify God, so anything we do in sin and faithlessness is disobedience. Thus, whatever we do, whether in thoughts or actions must align with the word of God.

The beautiful thing about scripture is that its practicality is not simply spiritual. The Lord Jesus gives practical ways of obeying God in our day-to-day life. He teaches forgiveness, kindness, patience, and humility. When we practice this, we gain favor not only with God but with man. The Lord wants us to live in peace with everyone in holiness (Heb 12:14 NIV).

Anyone that wants to know God for themselves must not only know his word but practice it in fullness, for the scriptures tells us that "'Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." (1 John 2:4 NIV). In fact, Jesus refers to such a person as a fool, who will lose everything he has built, for the waves and tides will wash it all away. Firm is the foundation of one who takes heed of God's Word and puts it into practice; it is a rock that no waves or tides can shake, because it is built on the Lord Jesus himself, the ultimate foundation (Matt 7: 24-28 NIV).

Conclusion

Obedience in every aspect of our lives is ultimately how we can live out our purpose. It is better than anything we could even sacrifice or give to the Lord (1 Sam 15:22 NIV). When you walk in Christ and make Him your purpose in life, that means in everything you do, He becomes the reason, the driving factor to that objective. You begin to do things his way, not your own. your plans, his way, your marriage, his way, your finance, his way, your education, his way. YOUR EVERYTHING, HIS WAY!

'"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

Proverbs 16:9