RAW SpiritualitySample

Day 1: Wonderland

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” – John 1:1-3 (NIV)

One of the most basic questions everyone asks themselves somewhere along the line is, “Why am I here?” or “What’s my purpose?”

To find purpose in life has puzzled people for thousands of years. And when we listen to people all around us it still puzzles them today. Yet, God sets out to highlight His purpose for us early on – as early as the creation story of Genesis.

Adam was put in the Garden of Eden to walk with God, side-by-side, and encounter Him face-to-face. Together with his wife, Eve, the first man found his purpose in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Three-in-One. Now, through the complete work of Christ on the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us, we can also walk and talk with God as Adam did.

Therefore, when we read Genesis 1:26-28 we also see a threefold purpose set in motion for all mankind to come:

1) First, we were created in God’s image and His likeness. Therefore, we were created for His glory, meant to honor and glorify Him in all we do. Like a father being commended and possibly feeling quite proud when his child bears his characteristics, God put us here to show others what He is like.
We are here for Him to be glorified in our personal world.

2) Second, God told us to multiply and thus enjoy fellowship. Later, God says to Adam that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). While this obviously indicates the natural generational cycle of marriage, having children and extending families to populate future generations, it also points us to the gift of fellowship. In a deeper sense, this purpose of fellowship spurs us on to share love, experiences and the truth of who God is with others – be it at home, with friends, at work or at church. We are relational beings. Created for relationship with God first and for relationship with others also.

3) Third, we were put in our world to govern it according to God’s authority, as stewards of the King. Building on the previous two purposes, what we do with the world God put us in, and most of all the people He put us with, can result in His glory. Human beings are the only creations that the Creator Himself commanded to “rule and subdue” His creation. Therefore, every day is a God-given blessing. What we do with each day is how we bless God in return.

So, are you bringing glory to God wherever you go? Are you growing in relation to God as you are building relationship with others also? What do you do every day with the time, talent, passion and opportunities God is giving you?

Discover Deeper:

» What can you identify to give God glory for, or glorify Him with, today?

» What responsibilities would you say did God entrust to you to steward and multiply for Him?

» Where are you going regularly to grow in your relationship with others… and with God?