On the Purpose

Introduction

A 4 word question carries so much complexity is what is your purpose? Truth be told there are a number of people that do not walk in purpose, walking in purpose is often times frightening, it takes a large measure of faith. Sometimes purpose does not put food on the table immediately, sometimes purpose causes you to move to a city where you do not know anyone. Sometimes purpose might cause you to lose friends! It’s imperative that we understand that attached to purpose is responsibility, accountability and service. If we do not attach these competencies to our purpose our purpose can lead to a prideful attitude about what we have been gifted to do.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Purpose is inspirational, purpose is an example to those who may be walking down the same journey of life. One of the blessings of this pandemic is that is has caused us to be intentional is our effort to realign and acclimate ourselves to the mission of ministry. One of the biggest shifts we have had to make is turning engagement into drawing out purpose for the sake of discipleship. Thinking about the future, the future teachers, administrators, ministry leaders, praise and worship leaders. If we are going to shift gears properly it’s imperative that we understand where we are as it pertains to our efforts in the home with our families and within the confines of ministry.

In an automatic car you have park, neutral, reverse, drive, and some cars are equipped with special gears to go up hill and down hill.

Some of us are carrying a bigger load in life similar to an 18 wheeler and when we have to reverse there’s sound attached to it so people around us are aware.

As leaders in our families we have to know when to park, when to just be still, we have to know when to drive to get to the next destination in our purpose, and most importantly similar to the parents of Jesus we have to know when to put it in reverse and go see about our child.

This happens in our lives individually as well. Sometimes I must be still and know that He is God, sometimes I have to press forward toward the mark, sometimes life is about reflection and life needs a sense of reverse. In Proverbs 15:21-23 “Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

Purpose is about learning from mistakes but most of all it’s about understanding the direction that God has placed in our lives.

Background

Understand the young adolescence of Jesus is surrounded by preparation. He’s consecrated in the temple, accompanied by a number of prophetic utterances. The development spiritually and religiously with Jesus was not void.

When it comes to our lives, when it comes to our children we have to trust the development we have been a part of. Shift gears to develop our youth properly. Sometimes the next generation needs us to reverse, sometimes the next generation needs us to put it in neutral, some of us need to get in the passenger seat and accompany the next generation being the captain of this ship.

Understand that age is not a determiner of impact. Jesus had a world changing impact, His birth affected politics so much that Caesar put our a decree for census, he was visited by shepherds, prophesied over, angels sang about him, the shepherds ran to behold him, teachers listened to him. Nonetheless the lesson we can learn about life is balance. We have to be balanced physically(grew in stature) , spiritually(in favor with God), intellectually(wisdom) and socially(in favor with man).

Development Requires a Village

Luke 2:41-44 “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”

We see in this text that his parents had trust in the “company”. As a parent there’s certain places I don’t have to worry too much about the well being of my child.

Especially when we are around relatives and acquaintances. Understand that acquaintance in this text is not similar to what we would culturally deem an acquaintance, in today’s jargon if I asked to go someone and the person was an acquaintance my mother would probably respond like many of your parents, “I don’t know them people”.

In this case acquaintance comes from the root word to know or understand these were people that Mary and Joseph understood.

Do you trust the people around you? One of the fastest ways to hinder purpose is to be around people who you don’t truly know and do not have your best interest at heart.

The trusted that Jesus was safe because they knew the people around them. Passover was not just a one off for this family, the bible says that His parents went every year. What are the expectations in your household? What are the customs that you have built with your home? How are they strengthening the purpose of those in your home? How is it strengthening your purpose?

This was a high anxiety time for the parents of Jesus, they had been looking for him for 3 days.

Nonetheless sometimes we have to break away from the journey that we are on to do what is in the best interest of our children! I know you had plans, I know you were on a time schedule but sometimes we find out the right path by taking time a reversing to locate exactly where are children are at in that moment.

Embrace Your Giftedness

Your child may not embrace the same hobbies and activities you embraced but sometimes purpose happens to be something you never thought it would be.

One of the worst things we can do is impose our experiences on our children. This is not the same youth ministry you grew up in, this is not the same church you grew up in, it’s not the same community you grew up in. We have to build opportunities but give them the space to experience it for themselves.

Nonetheless embrace the giftedness of your child! Luke 2:47-48 “And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.””

Church understand that parenting is stressful, I know you are tired, you got soccer games, basketball games, football games, debate tournaments, dance team, track team, bible study, youth group, nonetheless invest in your children! Nonetheless have balance to your investment.

You might not have children, but life in general can stress you out. Work, church, relationships, and on top of that God has a purpose He wants me to walk in. Nonetheless remember you are serving a God that has had a plan for us longer than we have been alive. Jeremiah 1:5 ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.””

Trust the Instinct That God Gave You

We have to quit allowing the applause of others keep us in places longer than God intended us to be.

It’s amazing that we will hate something and do it for decades just because people are applauding our efforts. When we aren’t walking in faith and purpose there is an emptiness that can only be filled by God. Walking in purpose might mean trading in the applause for the you can’t do its, that’s too difficult, and the come back”.

Sometimes walking in purpose is not always popular but it is necessary. Jesus had a keen sense of purpose at a young age. It’s difficult for people older than you sometimes to see your purpose past your age and position. Mary and Joseph couldn’t see purpose in the moment because they were looking for their son.

Nonetheless their confusion did not preempt Jesus to disobey or disrespect, “Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them”.

Purpose is about position, but it’s also about obedience, be an example in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Purpose is about balance.

Trust the faith that God gave you, there’s something you’ve been holding on to, a journey you need to take the first step on, a relationship you need end, or something you need to walk away from. Do not be afraid to hang back where you belong and be the astonishing person God called you to be!

And to those looking for those who have stayed behind, do not be amazed when you find the people you were looking for walking in their purpose.