The Green Pastures

Chasing after Purpose

“And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant” Isaiah 49:5a

Many people look aimlessly for meaning in their lives. They look in all the wrong places while the Bible reveals it in a number of places; this verse may be the clearest. This shows that God created each individual with purpose. If God made us for a reason and gave us a purpose, we are to chase after that purpose. It is not something to just do when it is convenient, in the highs and in the lows, trust God and run after what He has set before you. In going after whatever it is God calls you to, know that God is not sending you on your own. He is not a passive creator, He created you, has kept you to this point, and will continue to keep you through what you walk through. It is only right to respond to His steadfast love and faithfulness with our own faithfulness to Him. Mark 12:43 shows that it is not about how much we give but the heart behind. It can never match what He deserves but that cannot deter us from giving everything we can.

Glorifying Obedience

“For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.” Colossians 1:16

There is a famous quote from John Piper that states, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”. If it is our life goal to lift up God’s name and give Him glory, then we are not to look to fleeting satisfactions, rather we are to be fully satisfied in God alone. Instead of seeking satisfaction in what is around us, we should lift our eyes and behold the Creator of it all. As Romans 1 shows, it is foolish to worship the created instead of the Creator. In the same way, you do not thank the gift you got, but the one that got you the gift. God has created and given us everything we have, from the little blessings, to the gift of life. We are to thank Him and urge others to do the same. 

Leaning on Wisdom

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.” [Ps 19:1]” Revelation 4:11

Many times in life there is a battle for who we listen to. It can be difficult whether to follow yourself or God. We may get a gut feeling or an intuition to what is the correct way. I am not saying to disregard that altogether because God can use that, but be careful to not exclude God in your decision-making. Do not forsake the wisdom of God for what your own understanding is telling you, God created you and knows what is better for you. God is not limited in knowledge like you and I, lean on the one with all wisdom. When the One with all the wisdom calls you to something know that it is for a good reason. He does not call you without a plan to get you through it, even when you cannot see it.