What is your purpose?

This can be a really tough question if you make it, but in actuality it’s quite simple. In Isaiah 43:7 it states clearly that we were made to glorify God, our creator. Not only did he form the whole universe with his hands but he also gave us his son to replace our sin, so there’s no doubt that he deserves all the glory we can give. The question then becomes, "What now?" We’ve got this amazing purpose, so what do we do with it? That’s where passion comes in.

We all have things we’re passionate about, things we’re good at and enjoy spending our time doing. These are amazing and totally from God. He’s given us all different talents and abilities that make us who we are, and we use those to please Him. Many times, however, we see this huge purpose and feel totally inadequate.

What I mean is that I’ll see someone who’s passionate about going out and ministering to the un-reached people of Africa and I’m sitting there like, “I just really like to bake.” For a lot of us, it’s so easy to feel like our passions aren’t “holy” enough. And you know who’s telling us that? Satan. He loves to make us think that we just can’t glorify God with our specific abilities, so we may as well not even try. He’s a big, fat liar.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.” Did you see that italicized word? In whatever you do. That means if you’re passionate about teaching, welding, math, whatever it may be, go for it! God is the one who made you good at that, he’s not going to tell you not to use your talents! As long as we do whatever it is we do in a way that brings glory to God, never taking the credit for ourselves and using those passions to help pursue our purpose. Louis Giglio once said, “If your passion becomes your purpose, that’s where you’ll go wrong, but if your passion has a greater purpose, then you’re on track.”

Now, I’m definitely not saying we don’t need to be directly involved in expanding God’s kingdom, all of us should try to be involved in ministry somehow, locally or internationally. And if you’ve been called to the mission field that’s awesome! What I’m saying is that you don’t absolutely have to be an actual minister or missionary to be living a life that proclaims Jesus. If we keep our personal passions aligned with our heavenly purpose, God will be glorified.