First of all, I don't really have an issue with a purpose drivien life. I think everyone should have a purpose. A purpose liken to a conviction. And I once heard a very smart man say: a belief is something we cling on to but a convinction is something that clings on to us. I think having a purpose to live is very very important - it drives us forward and gives us fufilment.
That purpose or conviction could be as simple as making the best food in kitchen, be a business tycoon, be the best politician or be the best evangelist but it could also be as simple as wanting to be a taitai or to be a housewife.
Whatever that thing is, I believe that purpose would grab hold of you. You just can't force it to come or force yourself to go for it. It doesn't have to be 'spiritual' or 'secular'... all are spiritual.
The hallmark of Godly purpose I believe is that Peace and Joy and Sureness which follows. You can't explain it but you just know it. Like it's inside of you.
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The problem I have with the purpose driven life is when 'purpose' takes centre stage of life. It's when our driving force is "purpose". It's when a life that's PURPOSE driven instead of God led that I think there may be a problem. I think. One is motivated by God, the other by sheer willpower from our own. I believe our value & identity in Christ is not judged by our 'Purpose'. It's not about what we do. We're human beings and not human doings.
However there's lot of things out there that incline on making us a 'do' christianity. We are told to 'do' holiness, to 'do' godly stuff, to 'do' ministries and to 'do' serving. Hey! Bible says 'be' holy for God is holy. It's like being a guy or a gal. You don't 'do' guys' stuff to be a man.. you just be, as simple as that. And as I read the bible more, most if not all the things starts from resting in Him, in Jesus' finished work.
Remember Jesus said that we can do nothing except through Him. Nothing.
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Lastly on the great commision.
It says to make disciples. Disciples are not converts. Disciples are just much more than that. Again, it's not about doing evangelism to 'convert' it's about becoming like christ to influence. The difference is subtle but the outcome huge.
Last last, on chapter 36 of the book, it quotes: The most important thing is that i complete my mission that the Lord Jesus gave me' -Acts 20:24 .
That's not accurate. "24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Hmm... testifying, gospel,God's grace.
In another passage Phil 3 "7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
What is Paul's purpose? I thought he's suppose to preach the gospel and all that, wasn't he the guy tasked to preached the gospel to the gentiles? Letter after letter, he seems addicted to the "grace of god" -- how come he doesn't say 'go and make converts'?
Even to the mature christians in ephesians, he says:
16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
So I think there you have it, Paul's own words. His purpose in life.
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