You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:20 (AMP)
t has been my privilege over the years to help many men and women articulate a purpose statement of their own. This purpose statement is especially helpful when it is becomes necessary to go back to the drawing board to refocus and recommit to creatively living it out.
R. Paul Stevens says this about purpose in his book, Aging Matters, “God does not have a wonderful plan for our lives. He has something far better—a wonderful purpose! For some Christians, concern to be in the center of God’s will leads to guidance anxiety.”
Understanding why I was put here on earth by God not only gives me a wonderful sense of peace but also great clarity about how to use my energy, time and resources. On the other hand, guidance anxiety is a very real problem for believers since we are sincerely concerned about pleasing God—and we often struggle with not feeling confident that we are in the center of His will. Fretting over not getting it quite right can paralyze us from doing anything at all and certainly diminishes any joy in the process.
Stevens also compares a plan and a purpose, “A plan, like a blueprint, must be followed in slavish detail, but a purpose is like a fast-flowing stream that carries a boat along and incorporates even mistakes into its ultimate direction.” Describing purpose as free-flowing and forgiving certainly removes a great deal of the pressure.
Stevens then adds his interpretation of God’s transcendent purpose and gives clear direction about how to work with Him to accomplish His will, “To participate in God’s grand purpose of renewing everything in Christ means to oppose evil, to do the work of maintaining a city, to build community, to create systems that bring dignity and value to human life.”
Like me, you might need to be reminded often to get on board with God’s grand purpose for the world—and then if you do not already have one, get busy articulating a purpose statement of your own—so that you can cheerfully float along—honoring and glorifying Him.
*Aging Matters, finding your calling for the rest of your life, R. Paul Stevens, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, p. 35.