The Greatest Purpose of Life
July 26, 2021
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 NLT
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NLT
Waking up feeling purposeless is… well, frustrating and defeating. You see others with meaningful lives. They have deep relationships and a sense of direction that compels them to get up each day with anticipation. You know that God has something good for you—you just can’t seem to find it. You don’t expect every day to be a parade, but you do feel that an overall sense of joy and purpose should characterize your life.
We are all searching for something in life. Whatever you call it, there is an innate desire in each of us for our lives to matter, to have significance and purpose. But too often we look to things such as career, status, wealth, relationships, and applause to give us what we crave. But as followers of Christ, we know the truth even if we don’t want to own it: Nothing on this earth can fully satisfy our longing for significance and worth. Nothing apart from Jesus and His purpose.
The psalmist said, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” This is key in understanding and following God’s purpose for your life. God is keenly interested in you and is committed to fulfilling every purpose He has for you, the greater purpose of life. This is where we must look.
In John 4, we see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. This woman has to come to the well daily, maybe even several times a day, to satisfy her thirst. But Jesus says to her, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:13-14). That’s a fulfilling, purposeful life now and always. He offers that same water to us. In Him, our desperate thirst and search for meaning and purpose is quenched forever. God has given us this desire to be significant, to make a difference, to have our lives mean something in the end. His greater purpose for us is the answer.
- What would you consider to be your greatest source of significance so far in life?
- The letter to the Colossians sums up Paul’s great discovery: The grand purpose of an abundant life is to know Christ and to make Him known. How clearly are you understanding and living that out? Talk to your Father about it.