Life's Daily Challenge Devotional

Becoming an environment for purpose

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent,” John 17:3.

“Let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth,” Jeremiah 9:24.

To those who seek to know God,

Eternal life is not a thing, but rather a person. Jesus said He is the Way, Truth and Life. Therefore, to the degree that we know the Person, we know life. Conversely, the more vague and distant our relationship is with Him, the more we find ourselves existing rather than truly living. Trying to define our lives apart from the person Who designed and crafted them is futile. Even if we achieve success in terms of the world’s standards, our life means nothing if it does not accomplish what God placed it here to do.

This is why God gave one command that sums up, and includes all His other commands. We are to love Him with our entire heart, mind, soul and strength and to express this love to those around us. To love Him we must know Him. In fact, the word “know” implies an intimacy or oneness that bears fruit. The more we know God, the more we become united with Him. The more our spirit entwines with His, the more His love will freely flow through us.

In order to position ourselves for purpose, we need simply to endeavor to know God and other people through each encounter of life. The more we know Him, the more freely we can administer His love. The more we know them, the more accurately we can impart this love to meet their needs.

As we do this, our own purpose is revealed and deepened. You see, purpose is not something that can be figured out. Because our purpose is “in Christ Jesus,” He and He alone can reveal it to us. He is the Truth. The more we know Him, the more we understand the truth of who we are. It’s important therefore, not to seek purpose itself. To do this will only have it elude you. Rather seek God’s Kingdom first...Know and love Him and share this love with others... and all these other things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33)!