Living on purpose makes life engaging, adventurous and challenging. Living without purpose makes life listless, miserable, aimless, selfish and pathetic. It's is no one's responsibility but yours for you to find and live your purpose. So, how the heck do you do that? Look what Hebrews 12:1-2 says,
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
1. There have been many wonderful people who have gone before us who found and lived out their purpose. We are benefiting from their faith. They found and fulfilled their potential and because of it, we are better off. Let's be inspired by them and follow their example. One thing you can do that is helpful here is to read great biographies. The Bible is full of stories of people who followed God, reading their stories can help us discover our own story.
2. Put aside empty purposes. There are many pursuits in life that are pose as "purpose" but are really not purposes at all. They are empty, meaningless things that result in death rather than life. The book of Ecclesiastes is a message about the meaningless pursuits and their end. It is difficult to find and fulfill your true purpose when you are still caught up in the wrong pursuits. Lay aside anything that keeps you from running the right race, even if it's not a bad thing, it could be bad simply because it keeps you from something better.
3. Finally we run the race that is set before us. This is, instead of looking somewhere way "out there" for my purpose, I need to look at what is before me. My own life, relationships, job, context, family etc. this is the race "set before me". If I run those pieces of my race well, I will find more race "set before me" to run. I must learn to find purpose in the very things that are right in front of me right now. How many people regret pursuing some far away, theoretical dream while neglecting the very precious things that are before them at the time!
All of this can really only happen as we look to Jesus. He is the author of your race. He designed it, He will enable you to run it. So run with joy the race before you. Generations to come will benefit because you did.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
1. There have been many wonderful people who have gone before us who found and lived out their purpose. We are benefiting from their faith. They found and fulfilled their potential and because of it, we are better off. Let's be inspired by them and follow their example. One thing you can do that is helpful here is to read great biographies. The Bible is full of stories of people who followed God, reading their stories can help us discover our own story.
2. Put aside empty purposes. There are many pursuits in life that are pose as "purpose" but are really not purposes at all. They are empty, meaningless things that result in death rather than life. The book of Ecclesiastes is a message about the meaningless pursuits and their end. It is difficult to find and fulfill your true purpose when you are still caught up in the wrong pursuits. Lay aside anything that keeps you from running the right race, even if it's not a bad thing, it could be bad simply because it keeps you from something better.
3. Finally we run the race that is set before us. This is, instead of looking somewhere way "out there" for my purpose, I need to look at what is before me. My own life, relationships, job, context, family etc. this is the race "set before me". If I run those pieces of my race well, I will find more race "set before me" to run. I must learn to find purpose in the very things that are right in front of me right now. How many people regret pursuing some far away, theoretical dream while neglecting the very precious things that are before them at the time!
All of this can really only happen as we look to Jesus. He is the author of your race. He designed it, He will enable you to run it. So run with joy the race before you. Generations to come will benefit because you did.
