Greater Purpose in How You Live

July 28, 2021

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NLT

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5 NLT

When we get close to the heart of Jesus, one of the premiere changes that takes place is that our perspective on our time and lives is different. A poem my mother taught me when I was young says,

“Live for something, have a purpose, and that purpose keep in view.
Drifting like a helmless vessel, thou canst ne’er to life be true.
Half the wrecks that strew life’s ocean, if some star had been their guide,
Might have still been riding safely, but they drifted with the tide.”

                                                                                    – Robert Whitaker

Jesus didn’t spend a single day drifting. Think of this: He was so intentional, full of purpose, and so close to His Father’s heart that He waited 30 years to make His ministry move, until “His time had come,” even though He knew that He would only have a few brief years to accomplish the task for which He was sent. Think of what happened in just three short years! Everything that we have today and eternally is because of the way He lived then and what He accomplished.

We have faith now and in the future ahead of us because Jesus realized the brevity of life and intentionally spent His moments and built His relationships on the eternal purpose. A survey of the four gospels, the historical accounts of Jesus’ life, shows us that He was an approachable, compassionate, and wise interactor with people. Unbelievers loved Him easily as much as religious people, and often more. He was so kind and wise in the way He lived with unbelievers that they chose to follow Him. Think of it. ALL of His followers began as unbelievers.

Then He was wise and intentional in the way He chose and developed disciples/followers who then would imitate Him and do the same with others. Paul shared the wise strategy for living and passing on the faith with Timothy: “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Intentional, responsible, attractive living by hundreds of generations of Jesus-followers has given us the legacy of knowing Jesus. We now have the privilege and responsibility of living wisely and stewarding our greater purpose as well.

  • Where could you do better at living wisely?
  • Who are the unbelievers in your life? Pray that God will help you live wisely and attractively before them.