The Purpose

By Calvary Women

Jesus did not come just so that you could survive and “get through” life. He came so that you could thrive, and experience life to the fullest. Eugene Peterson paraphrases it beautifully in the Message: “I [Jesus] came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

God has a purpose for your life. As you continue developing your relationship with Him through Christ, He not only shifts your perspective about your current circumstances, but also about your future. He positions your life, your circumstances, your seasons, and the places and spaces in which you find yourself in order to reveal His purposes and plan. And here’s the best part, the part you can take to the bank as a guarantee and a promise: The plans that He has for you are ALWAYS for the good of your life, the good of others, and for His glory. Everything He does is a work towards redemption and restoration.

Now here’s the thing: Part of experiencing the more that God has for you is recognizing that God desires to use your story to bring life to others. As He transforms your life, as He pours His goodness, grace, and Spirit into you, there is an overflow that happens!

In a letter to the church of Ephesus, the apostle Paul writes a beautiful prayer to the Ephesians that perfectly describes life in the full:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16–20 NIV).

Is there more to life? Yes, there is more. Life in its fullness is found through being rooted in the love of God. Everyday is a new opportunity to grow in the understanding of God’s love. Paul wanted us to experience the fullness that comes from knowing this love personally. There is a sense of wholeness or completion that comes from experiencing the love of God. 

However, it gets even better than this: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV).

God can never be measured. The bank of goodness, mercy, hope, peace, kindness, etc never runs dry. His riches and grace and love and gifts and power and presence and peace and joy and comfort and strength and hope never run out. And just when we think we’ve had these things at their fullest, at their greatest, and their deepest, our precious Savior expands our tank so that we can experience more! In His Word, in prayer, in community, in worship, in service, in generosity, in surrender, in His presence each and every moment, as we draw closer to Him and He draws closer to us (James 4:8), as we walk in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) . . . as we are conformed to the image of His Son and see our hearts and mind transformed through relationship with Him (Romans 8:29, Romans 12:2), we will experience fullness in increasing measure because we are loved by a God who does “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” And because of this, we say,  “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

PAUSE: Reflect on Ephesians 3:14-21. How does the love of God shift your perspective on your purpose?

PRACTICE: Identify an area in your life where you have been limiting God. Share this with a close friend or write it down.

PRAY: Pray Ephesians 3:20-21. “God, thank You for creating me with a purpose in mind. Please continue to show me what You have in store for my life.”