“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
We are born into this world to make a difference. Every life matters. Each is specifically purposed and designed by the Creator of the Universe. Look around at the care He has laced into every detailed flower, butterfly, species of tree and grand forest. The great bodies of water and their beauty on the surface, and the plethora of life that teems underneath. He has named each star in the sky. We have not even discovered all of the beauty He made to bless our lives with! We are a part of that beauty, His most precious creation! Scripture reminds us God cares for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, and begs us to imagine how much more He cares for us! The purpose of our lives is to bring glory and honor to our Father in Heaven.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images-Rawpixel
“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
God’s intentions flow from His character. He is unchanging. From the beginning of time, Jesus was His plan to rescue us from the impending punishment of death from sin. He purposefully made a way for us to find our way back to Him. Not by force, but by intentionally loving us for who we are, right where we are at, all of the time. Jesus died to erase shame and guilt. In Christ, we are free to live out the purpose God has for us! Which, Scripture reminds, is more than we can ask for or imagine! His plans are not our plans, helping us to accept the harsh realities of life in this world, but also giving us hope as to what He has in store for us! We can trust our lives will make a difference, because our God is purposeful.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Zbynek Pospisil
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
All life and every good work come from God. God is good. It’s a part of His character that flows out of us, His children. The above verse from the prophet Jeremiah illustrates the intimate relationship we have with our Father God before we are even grown enough to start comprehending who He is and who we are in Christ. Knowing our lives have purpose allows us to have compassion for all of the other lives that border ours. If God is patient to let us choose salvation in Christ, lending no guilt or shame for previous choices or lifestyles, than we are all guaranteed that same freedom to choose. In God’s eyes, we are all equally loved and cherished. Scripture reminds us Jesus left the ninety-nine sheep to find the one who had gone astray. Every life has purpose.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Paul Skorupska
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
God is purposeful, and every life is purposeful, so we can know the people He has placed in our lives are purposeful as well. Each and every life makes a difference, not only to the world or to the community we live in, but amongst the personal relationships we have within our families, friendships, and with our neighbors. When we begin to see each conversation as a divine opportunity, our understanding of how important we each are to each other resonates. Sometimes, we are the ones sent to encourage another. In other seasons of our lives, we may look back and see the divine love (and hugs) from Jesus through a friend who stood by us and encouraged us during that time. He is faithful to care for us, through us! This is how we become channels of Christ’s love.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/August de Richelieu
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
This earth is not our final resting place, for heaven is home to all those in Christ. We are created for fellowship with our Creator, and will continue to crave more and more of Him until we meet Him at our final home. God has qualified us to make a difference for others by living a life that exudes the hope we have in meeting our Father in heaven one day. Scripture reminds us of Jesus’ command to “Go!” and tell of who He is and who the Father is. To share the hope we have in Christ. Our faithful steps to follow Christ leads others to do the same.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Biletskiy Evgeniy
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Scripture continually reminds us how important it is to be humble, grateful, and purposefully praise God in good times and bad. When it comes to considering how our lives make a difference, giving credit where credit is due is important. We are called to work hard with the gifts and talents God has given us, but also to give glory to God for all of our accomplishments, blessings, hope and happiness. Our acknowledgment that every good thing and work comes from God brings honor to His name. We fulfill our purpose not by achieving goals and accumulating wealth and possessions, but by following Christ faithfully. Giving credit to God for the breath to live life, no matter our circumstances, spotlights the hope we have in Christ. Our generosity to share and lend our time and talents to further our communities and help our neighbors shows we know the reality of our mortality. We can’t take anything with us from this life, and no amount of suffering or pain will last forever.
Every life has been qualified to make a difference. Whether we are Biblical scholars or pastors, stay at home parents, teachers, civil workers, politicians, or baristas, each and every life has purpose. God loves each of us. Let’s focus on that the next time we scroll though our social feeds or walk through a public place. Focus on every face, and know that God knew all of us before we were even born. We are connected in a powerful way, by the Most High God. Each day we wake to breathe is purposed to make a difference.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Arthit_Longwilai