Playing On Purpose By Pete BriscoeShembull

Always Enough for Your Father

To please God… to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. — C.S. Lewis

It’s one thing to realize your primary purpose is to be God’s kid. It’s another to believe that being God’s kid is enough to please Him. Surely there must be something more—something else required of you in order to make Him glad He lets you live?

Travel with me to Luke 3. I want to show you the very first words spoken over Jesus as an adult. Jesus was among the people, getting baptized by John:

And as [Jesus] was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22, emphasis mine)

Here we see Jesus’ primary human calling, which is the same as ours—to be a child of God.

But what about the second half of God’s statement? Correct me if I’m wrong, but Jesus hadn’t done anything yet. He hadn’t healed anyone. He hadn’t gone head to head with any Pharisees. He hadn’t taught a single sermon or performed a miracle.

Still, God said, “You’re My boy; I love you, and you please Me.”

And He says the same to us today! If all we ever do in this life is exercise our primary calling—that of being His child—we’ve fulfilled our primary purpose. God is pleased with us; God is pleased with you.

Isn’t it beautiful? That’s called grace, my friends.

Yet, most believers have a longing to be used by God. It’s heard in the question, “God, what do You want me to do?”

This question leads us to our secondary purpose. As children of God, we’re called to be His instruments. And when I think of instruments, I think of musical instruments. But here’s the problem: Instruments can’t play themselves. They need a master.

Our secondary calling is to be an instrument in the hands of the Master.

Loving Father, it blows my mind that I could be nothing other than Your child and this would still please You. The grace of it all overwhelms me, drives me to my knees in thanks, and spurs me forward into Your hands—eager to join Your divine melody. Amen.