Monday, January 18, 2021

Jesus Determined to Be About His Father's Business, So Should We!

     Jesus, even at a young age, was determined to begin and do His Father's business (Luke 2:41-52). We, as God's children, should also be determined to do our Father's business!

"Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," 
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 
(Matthew 7:21 NKJV

     We need to appreciate God adopting us as His children (Ephesians 1:3-6), so much so that we joy in learning and doing His will (James 1:21-25, 1 Peter 2:1-3)! We need to value and respect God's word as His word (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and grow and develop as we obey the commands found within it (2 Peter 3:17-18).
 
    Jesus determined to fulfill His God-given purpose (Isaiah 7:14-15, 40:10-11, 53:1-12, Luke 19:10, John 3:16; 6:38) and He accomplished it (John 17:4, 19:30)!
 
    To be more like the Son in 2021, let's consider our God-given purpose and determine to fulfill it! 
 
    What is our purpose? Consider these purpose-filled verses:
  
    1) SEEK GOD!

Acts 17:26-27 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, thought He is not far from each one of us.”

     2) PROCLAIM HIS PRAISES!

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

     3) DO GOOD WORKS!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

     We were created to seek God and find Him! God says to us, “Seek My face” and we begin to fulfill part of our purpose when our heart responds as David’s did: “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”(Psalm 27:8) Consider, also, the promise found in Hebrews 11:6, God will reward those who diligently seek Him!

    We are to tell others of God's love, generosity, and greatness! Read and reread Psalm 34:1-3 - "magnify the LORD" means to 'declare His greatness;' we need to fulfill our purpose by praising God and proclaiming His praises to others!! Turn to and consider Psalm 50:23 – praise glorifies God! Sounds a lot like what we read in Ephesians 1:3-14 – “to the praise of His glory!” God is worthy of all praise and those around us NEED to hear of His wondrous deeds (Psalm 78:4)!

     We are to do good works! God created us to do good works. When we do good works, those who observe us will glorify God (Matthew 5:13-16); they will attribute our kindnesses to God!! To Him be the glory!! God wants us to be ZEALOUS for good works – eagerly looking for ways to share His blessings with others (Galatians 6:6-10)! Good works meet urgent needs and are beneficial to others (1 Timothy 6:18) and that can cause some to grow weary, so that is why we are to look for ways to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), so that we can all fulfill this part of our purpose! Still unconvinced? Turn to and read Titus 2 and 3, take note of how many times good works are mentioned in these two chapters!

     WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE!! It is true that we all have different abilities/talents with which to fulfill our common purpose, and we are all in different areas of the world and have unique circles of influence to fulfill our purpose in, but we ALL have the same purpose to fulfill!! And not only can you fulfill your purpose, but I truly believe that you feel fulfilled too (consider Jesus' statement in John 4:34)!! 

    It is time to begin fulfilling your purpose - just as Jesus did! Seek God, proclaim His praises, and do good works!!

    Jesus did it, so you and I can do it, too!

 "If you know these things, 
blessed are you if you do them." 
(John 13:17, NKJV)

     

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