PURPOSE

So many people seem to be lacking purpose these days. Perhaps our purpose has become lost in the immediacy of the “now,” living for the moment and how much “fun” can be had in that moment. We often lose the “big picture” of why we are here on this earth.

If you sometimes feel that way, I’m here to tell you what that purpose is…

¹ Praise the LORD!

Yes, give praise, O servants of the LORD.

Praise the name of the LORD!

² Blessed be the name of the LORD

now and forever.

³ Everywhere—from east to west—

praise the name of the LORD.

Psalms 113:1-3 (NLT)

We were created by Him…

Praise the LORD, everything he has created,

everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the LORD.

Psalms 103:22 (NLT)

We were created to bring Him honor…

Bring all who claim me as their God,

for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.’”

Isaiah 43:7 (NLT)

Let this attitude of gratitude become your theme song…

I will praise the LORD at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

Psalms 34:1 (NLT)

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SIDES

Politics can be very tiresome, especially in an election year. However, some issues we cannot afford to dismiss. One of those is how we as a people, as a nation, treat the nation of Israel.

God, in His promise to Abraham makes the following statement…

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3 (NIV)

As you continue to follow the story of God’s people, you find instances where God makes good on His promise. Look at the following passage from First Samuel…

This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. ³Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 1 Samuel 15:2-3 (NIV)

Saul followed the Lord’s instructions (at least most of them!) and destroyed the Amalekites.

As Christians, we need to pray for the nation of Israel and for our country’s stand on dealing with them. God will not forsake His promise to Abraham. Just as He did not forsake His promise to bless all people on earth through the Jews.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

His Son, Jesus Christ, was born a Jew. Salvation has come to all people who will accept Jesus as their Savior.

God also tells us in Revelation 7:4-8 that 12,000 from each tribe will be saved. God will keep His promise to Abraham. Pray for the people of Israel. We don’t have a choice as to which side we are on if we want to be obedient to God.

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ILLUSTRATION

Many things are difficult to understand. The speed of light, how the planets stay in orbit around the sun, the incredible way our bodies heal themselves when cut are just a few of them.

Jesus said some things that were difficult to understand, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable to us today. One of the things He said was,

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54 (NIV)

He had told His listeners earlier in the chapter that He was the bread that came down from heaven, the bread of life (vs. 35) and in John 4:14 He said,

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Obviously, a literal interpretation cannot be applied. We don’t’ have water shooting out of us and to think of actually eating someone’s flesh, is rather repulsive. So what did Jesus mean?

John had declared to His readers in the opening of chapter one that Jesus was God.

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14 (NIV)

To understand that God (The Word: logos in the Greek) sent Jesus to be the Savior of all who would accept Him, we must accept that He came in the “flesh” as a human. (see also Philippians 2:6-8)

“Eating” the flesh of Jesus is equivalent to saying “God came down to earth in the form of man.”

“Drinking” the blood of Jesus is accepting the fact that He was pierced on the cross for our transgressions, that He shed His blood for our sins (Hebrews 9:22), died, was buried and three days later, was raised to life.

The “water” He gives us is the Holy Spirit, our “spring” of eternal life. It is God in us.

Jesus wasn’t trying to confuse anybody by speaking this way. On the contrary, He was using terminology and illustrations that they (along with you and I) could understand if they would just open their hearts to Him.

Have you opened your heart to Him today? If not, today is the day of salvation. Accept Jesus’ sacrifice for you and turn away from sin and toward Him today. If you have, then share these words with someone who does not know Jesus as their Savior.

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PRAY

We often think we need something when we really don’t. The people of Israel thought they needed a king to rule over them when, in fact, they already had the King of kings, the Almighty God as their ruler. The Prophet Samuel pointed this out to them and they realized their guilt. Here is Samuel’s reply to them, which has implications for you and me today…

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. ²¹Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²²For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. ²³As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.” 1 Samuel 12:20-25 (NIV)

Vs. 20: All have done evil – The bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That’s you and me. We share the guilty verdict.

Vs. 21: Don’t turn toward idols – whether they be material possessions like cars, boats, clothes OR perhaps “sacred cows” in our churches (we can only sing hymns, we can only use the King James Version, Women shall not wear pants to church, etc.)

Vs. 22: God will not reject His people – God has chosen Israel as His people as well as the followers of Jesus Christ. He will not reject Israel or His church. He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6)

Vs. 24: Fear God

Serve God

Remember all God has done for you

Vs. 25: Keep doing evil – you will perish

WAIT A MINUTE! You left out verse 23.

Well, actually I saved it for last because I wanted to bring it to the forefront of our attention today…

We are to pray for God’s people…whether or not we agree with them…whether or not we think they are acting the way they should…whether or not we feel they are incorrect in their doctrine. We are to pray for them. Not praying for them would be a “sin against the Lord” according to this word from God himself.

Start today. Turn your heart toward God, pray for His people.

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BLIND

Seeing is believing…isn’t it? Many people had a chance to witness the power of God when He fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6:9-13). Did they all then become believers in Jesus?

Listen to Jesus’ comments to the people who followed Him the next day…

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:26 (NKJV)

They were seeking Jesus, not because of the power of God that was exhibited, but because they wanted something else. They wanted Him to “conjure up” a new coat, a herd of sheep, or perhaps fill their grain bins with a year’s supply of pre-ground flour!

What they missed was the incredible power behind the miracle itself! The saw what the “miracle man” might be able to do for them but they were blind as to who the man doing the miracles really was…the Son of the Almighty God.

We look out at a planet full of miracles. Actually, a universe of miracles, with all of its brilliant splendor brought back to us in “living color” by modern technological equipment. Do we think, “Thank you God for your creation” or “Lord, I want a bigger house”? Do we look at the miracle of childbirth and thank God for the life we have been entrusted with or do we simply think about the inconvenience of sleepless nights and what the child might do for us when it’s finally old enough to work?

There are many miracles to ponder…but only One, True and Living God. The only way to have communion with Him is through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). We must look behind the miracles to the power that caused them to occur.

As you read the admonition below to God’s people, remember that you, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, are one of His children and that the words apply to you as well. Don’t be blinded by what He can do for you, but dwell on Who it is that has already done so much for you. Thank Him and ask, “How can I ever thank you enough”.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! ⁵You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ( NKJV )

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