“Purpose Finding” is “in” these days.
He or she is “purpose driven.” They are “fulfilling their purpose.”
I’m sharing this ON purpose to ask if, like me, you sometimes wonder if we make things more complicated than they should be. On purpose.
Micah was a big “purpose” guy. You remember Micah. Old Testament and old school. Once wrote this:
“And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The simplicity of Micah’s wisdom is easily evaded. Because in the chic area of ‘purpose finding,’ it is more convenient for human beings to make things complicated. It’s more comfortable too. At least for a while. Because it keeps us from the hard and dirty business of real change.
We declare we have no clue what our purpose is. The questions is sincere: “What does God really want me to do?” But that question is an excuse to dog-paddle as our lives slip away.
According to Micah, God wants us – requires us – to act justly. To love mercy. To walk humbly with Him. From that, our purpose will find us.
Is it easier to read a ‘spiritual’ book and join a Bible study than it is to do those things? I think so. Relationships involve time and deep commitment. It’s easier to read a book on marriage, to study marriage, to “get ready” to marry, than to live out a marriage. It’s easier to read a book about fence building than it is to build a fence.
To live as God requires, He has to be the heartbeat. And as He becomes the heartbeat, our purpose becomes clear. For that day. “Give us Lord our ‘daily’ bread…” And the days, and our purpose, plays out by His hand.
We have been told what is required: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with Him. There’s our purpose, or at least the path to a more specific purpose.
Jesus didn’t carry a Daytimer, but he knew his purpose: He set his face toward Jerusalem.
He walked with intention. He walked with purpose. ON purpose.
And so, his purpose unfolded — though few would have guessed at the time that his purpose could be what it was. But with each just and compassionate act, with each humble step, he showed us what it looks like to fulfill God’s purpose.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu