Living Life on Purpose

Luke 1:68–80 ESV

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Zechariah understood that John's life was a life of purpose. In Luke 1:77, Zechariah notes that John would come "to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins." John came to accomplish God's covenant promises to Israel.

John had a God ordained Purpose (v. 76)

To prepare the way of the Lord. How? John the Baptist preached a message centered on repentance, preparation for the coming of the Messiah, and the announcement of God's kingdom. He called people to turn from their sins, be baptized as a sign of their repentance, and prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the one who would bring salvation—Jesus Christ.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven (God) is at hand."

Like John, God has a purpose for our lives and our church. Do you believe this? John is remembered because he lived life on purpose.

God's first purpose: Life with Him.(Luke 1:68-71)

Luke 1:68–71 ESV

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

Zechariah knew that God had a purpose for his people, a purpose that was a fulfilment of the prophecies of old.

A great verse emphasizing God's first purpose of creating us for life with Him is Genesis 1:26-27:

"Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

This verse highlights that humans were made in God's image to reflect His glory and enjoy fellowship with Him.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The purpose of life with God is later echoed in John 17:3, where Jesus says:

"Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent."

Both verses point to God's desire for a relationship with us, rooted in His creation and fulfilled through Christ.

God's second purpose: Holiness (Eph. 1:3-6; Luke 1:72-75)

Luke 1:72–75 ESV

to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Holiness is the result of salvation and flows out of what God has done for us. John came to bring the truth of the gospel to the people of Israel. He fulfilled God's promises in the Old Testament to send a prophet like Elijah who would proclaim the salvation of and restoration of God's people. The result was a holy life.

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Zechariah emphasized serving God without fear as a result of His mercy and covenant faithfulness. This could link well to the idea of grace-driven holiness.

God’s desire is for his people to live holy, faithful lives. This is not just a call to eternal life, it’s a call to living life well.

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

What is abundant living: It’s living life God’s way.

God's third purpose: A Purpose-Filled Life. (Psalm 25:8-12; Luke 1:76-80)

Luke 1:76–80 ESV

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

John’s purpose was clear - to be a light in the darkness. That’s a tough life, but a fulfilling one.

We often live life missing the purpose.

Psalm 25:8–12 ESV

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

The Challenge of Christmas

1. Live Life on Purpose

Too many times we live life just trying to make it to the next day. Just as John had a clear, God-ordained purpose to prepare the way for Christ, each believer has a unique calling in God’s kingdom. Ask yourself, How am I using my gifts, time, and resources to point others to Jesus? Live intentionally, seeking ways to share the knowledge of salvation with those around you.

As a church, we are called to prepare the way for Christ’s work in our community. Everything we do—our worship, discipleship, and outreach—must align with the purpose of making disciples and proclaiming the gospel.

2. Embrace Holiness as a Response to Redemption

Personal Application: Zechariah emphasizes that God’s mercy and salvation free us to serve Him in holiness and righteousness. Examine your life and ask, Are there areas where I need to let go of fear or sin to live in greater obedience to God?

Church Application: For the church, this means fostering a culture of grace and accountability, encouraging members to grow in holiness. As we seek revitalization, let us focus on spiritual renewal, recognizing that a holy, blameless church reflects God’s glory to the world.

3. Work Together to Fulfill God’s Mission

Personal Application: Zechariah’s vision reminds us that no one is excluded from God’s plan. Reflect on your role within the body of Christ and ask, How can I contribute to the work God is doing through our church? No role is too small; every member is indispensable.

Church Application: As a church, this is a call to unity and collaboration. We must align our efforts to transform lives, make disciples, and impact the city for Christ. This involves building stronger community connections, equipping members for ministry, and embracing the vision of revitalization as a shared mission.

At Truitt, our purpose is simple. We are answering the call to transform lives, make disciples, and change our city and world for the kingdom. That's who we are. That's what we're called to do. Next year we're going to look at what this looks like and start making changes through our Revitalization Team that will help us accomplish this God-given purpose. But we have to do this together.