Purpose 

With Bishop Ronald K. Powell 

      “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”    (2 Corinthians 3:18) 

   

1. 1. What Is My Purpose in Life? 

  

• • Your purpose in life is that which gives you a reason for living, the reason why God put you here on earth. 

  

• • Your purpose in life is an expression of your personal significance to God. 

  

• • Your purpose in life will be unique to you, based on God’s personalized plan for you. 

    

      Q  “I don’t feel like my life has any purpose. Is there any hope for me?” 

      Yes. You have hope—you were created by the God of hope. In the Bible, God says that He created you with a specific plan for your life. Your life can be filled with hope and purpose when you choose to follow God’s will. 

       “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

   

1. 1. What Is My Significance? 

  

• • Your significance means your importance. 

  

• • Your significance refers to your personal value, your individual worth. 

  

• • A sense of significance is one of your three God-given inner needs. Those three inner needs are: 

  

      LOVE 

           —      receiving an unchanging, unconditional commitment from another for what is best for you 

  

           “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) 

  

      SIGNIFICANCE 

           —      knowing the meaning and purpose for your life 

  

           “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2) 

  

      SECURITY 

           —      being grounded with an unshakable sense of belonging and acceptance 

  

           “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress.” (Proverbs 14:26) 

  

• • Even if you haven’t said these exact words, the following statements express a desire of your heart: 

  

•       —“I want my life to count.” 
•   
•       —“I want my life to make a difference.” 
•   
•       —“I want my life to be significant.” 
•   
•       —“I want my life to have meaning.” 
•   
•       —“I want my life to have purpose.” 
•   
•       —“I want to have an impact.” 
•   
•       —“I want to do something important.” 

  

  

      Q    “I’ve always felt insignificant. When comparing myself to others who are more gifted and accomplished than I am, how can I not feel insignificant?” 

•    You already have God-given significance … not because of anything you have done, but because of what Christ has done for you. 
•    You were significant enough for God to create you in His image. 

  

         “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” (Genesis 1:26) 

  

• • You were significant enough for the Lord to design a preplanned future for you. 

  

         “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

  

• • You were significant enough for Jesus to die on the cross for you. 

  

         “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 

  

      Realize that Jesus would not die for anything or anyone insignificant. You, indeed, have God-given worth. 

  

      “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6–7) 

    

1. 1. What Are Some Key Questions about Your Purpose? 

  

      Q     “Do I have only one purpose in life?” 

      No. You will have several purposes, depending on the major roles in your life. 

  

      For example, a teenager’s purpose may be: 

  

• • to grow in Christlike character 

  

         “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (Romans 8:29) 

  

• • to bring honor to his parents 

  

         “Honor your father and your mother.” (Exodus 20:12) 

  

• • to be the best student he can possibly be in order to bring glory to God 

  

         “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) 

    

      Q      “Can my purposes change?” 

      Yes. Some purposes will change, depending on the major changes in your life. 

  

      For example, a former student may marry and have children. Therefore, some of his former purposes as a student are no longer applicable. Now, his major life purposes may be: 

  

• • to grow in Christlike character 

  

         “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (Romans 8:29) 

  

• • to sacrificially love his wife as Christ loved the church 

  

         “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) 

  

• • to teach his children by lifestyle 

  

         “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” 

         (Deuteronomy 6:5–7) 

    

      Q      “Are purposes and goals the same?” 

      No. Purposes are different from goals; however, they are related.

     Your purposes answer, “Why am I here on earth?” Your goals answer, “What do I want to do here on earth?” The relationship between the two is that the goals you set should work together to help you reach your purposes. 

  

      For example, one of your purposes could be to “honor your father and your mother.” Yet, if your father is painfully critical, your short-term goal could be to pray for him every time you are around him and every time you think of him. You would be doing what Jesus said: 

  

      “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) 

  

      Q      “What is God’s purpose for my life?” 

      God’s highest purpose for your life is to conform you to the character of Christ. 

  

      The New Testament Greek word for “conform” is summorphos, which means “made like another.” The apostle Paul said, 

  

      “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (Romans 8:29) 

   

      Q      “What should my highest purpose be?” 

      Your highest purpose—and that of all creation—is to bring glory to God. The Bible highlights this by saying: 

  

      “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11–12) 

  

      The New Testament Greek word for “glory,” doxa, signifies “an estimate” of worth. 

  

      An “estimate” from a jeweler is a piece of paper that reflects the accurate value of a piece of jewelry. When you accurately reflect the character of Christ, you give God glory! 

  

      “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) 

  

Let’s Pray