Purpose-full

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I’m sure we’ve all heard of The Purpose Driven Life. Well, in case you haven’t, it’s a book about finding God’s purpose for your life. There are a lot of other books out there that “help” us, Christians, find out what God’s purpose is for our lives. There are books about our gifts and books about our personalities. There are books about our learning styles and some about our lack of learning styles. Each of these books were written to help us discover what God’s purpose is for our lives.

I’m a singer/guitar player. I lead worship and I like to get loud. I love when I see smiling faces in the congregation and get pumped up by the enthusiastic response to the songs that I get to play. Is this God’s purpose for my life? Could be. But wait, I’m also a State Trooper. I get excited when I have the opportunity to help someone in trouble. I enjoy educating people about the importance of safe driving. I’m happy when I have the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life. Is this God’s purpose for my life?

What if I choose the wrong thing as what I believe to be God’s purpose for my life? Will things fall apart around me? Will He no longer cause things to work for good in my life because I’m not working according to His purpose? We get wrapped up in the idea that this verse is making reference to “fixing” the bad things that have happened to us that we fail to realize that maybe God is working everything good for us! It boils down to your opinion of God. Is He a Mr. Fix-it or is He a fixed-it-before-it-broke kind of God?

Interestingly enough, in this verse is the qualification clause “to them who are the called according to His purpose.” We don’t have the assurance that all things work together for good simply because we love God; we must be those who are called according to His purpose. There are a lot of people who “love god”. To some, god is a statue. To others, a tree. It’s easy to love god, but to be called according to His purpose, that’s a different story.

I made mention earlier of finding God’’s purpose for our lives. State Trooper, guitar player, singer, car salesman, restaurant manager, mom, dad, lawn mower, and dog groomer are not examples of God’s purposes for our lives. These are occupations; they’re jobs. They are things that we do with the gifts God has given us, but they are not His purpose.

A look into the Greek translation of this verse sheds some interesting light on the word “purpose.” The word is the Greek word “prothesis” which does, in fact, mean purpose. But it actually has two meanings, and purpose is the second. The first meaning has to do with something entirely different; it’s all about Jesus Christ! I know, it’s amazing, but it’s true!

The first definition has to do with the idea of setting forth something, placing it in view. Specifically, it references the showbread. The showbread was something that was required to be placed in the tabernacle of God (Exodus 25:30). The showbread was also a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

You see, the truth is that anyone can love God, but not all are the called according to His Purpose. What’s God’s Purpose for your life? Jesus Christ. We, those who are found to be in Christ, know that all things (not some; not a few) work together for good. Consider that God is working good right now for your life so that bad won’t happen, not so that bad will happen and God will make it good!

Once again, God makes the point that everything hinges on Jesus Christ. All things don’t work together for good because we love God. They work together for good because God loves us! It is according to His Son’s sacrifice that all things work for good. It is according to His Son’s righteousness that all things work for good. It is according to His Son’s grace that all things work for good!

AMEN!