Purposefully His

I was never what you would consider an outdoorsy child. I didn’t like to get my hands dirty, the heat or bugs. Give me a book and air conditioning instead. That being said, I do have a few memories of playing in the dirt. Spoons and measuring cups now became tools to dig holes and make mud pies. At the time, the spoon served the purpose of digging just fine. If the endeavor became more serious than just play, like digging a hole to plant a tree, the spoon would soon cause some serious frustration. A spoon’s created purpose is to stir or ladle. A shovel was created to dig.

All over Instagram there are reels showing “new” ways to use everyday items. Your water hose sprayer breaks, poke holes in a water bottle and use that. Ideas like that can help in a pinch but if you use that everyday you will get frustrated.  A bottle was not created to be a water sprayer.

The word purpose is a noun meaning the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. Many times when we get frustrated in life we have lost the purpose of what we are doing.

---

It had been three days. Where could a twelve year old boy have gone? But this wasn’t just any twelve year old boy, this was Jesus. I am sure Mary and Joseph were frustrated. I am sure Joseph had jobs back in Nazareth that needed finishing. Mary had other children to care for. Instead they were searching for Jesus. It seems like in the day to day of living they forgot Jesus’ purpose. The angel told both of them that Jesus wasn’t just a normal child. He was the Messiah. They found Him in the least likely of places for a boy. He was in the temple in the middle of the rabbis discussing scripture.

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? - Luke 2:48-49 KJV

Jesus knew His purpose, but Mary had forgotten. His purpose was greater than that of a carpenter’s son. He had a much different path to walk than Mary could have imagined.

The apostles were confused and frustrated. Just a few days ago, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna! Now those same people are shouting for His crucifixion. They spent three years following Him all over Israel. Was it all for nothing? Was it all a mistake? What did they miss? How could it all be over? The apostles were like most Jews thinking the Messiah was coming to set up an earthly kingdom. Many times in the Gospels you see where Jesus tells them He was going to have to die. They couldn’t understand that the purpose Jesus had for them was so much greater than they could perceive. It wasn’t over. It was just beginning.  Their frustration would only last three more days.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. - Acts 1:8-9 KJV

Their frustration at Jesus' crucifixion came from misguided purpose. Jesus chose them to be the spiritual ambassadors for His kingdom to the world. After the day of Pentecost, the book of Acts chronicles how Jesus’ disciples turned the world upside down. Their purpose was clear now. No more frustration, right?

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. - Acts 11:1-3 KJV

Peter was fulfilling the purpose Jesus had given them.  Even though he had a vision, Peter still had a hard time going to Cornelius’ house because in his mind their purpose wasn’t really “unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” He told the brethren in Jerusalem everything that happened and how as he preached Cornelius and his family were filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. I love how Peter phrases it.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? - Acts 11:17 KJV

God’s purpose was greater. Their frustration came when their ideas didn’t match up with His purpose.

​Have you ever felt like you are digging in a pit of sand? You start to feel like you are making progress then the sand shifts.  Life can feel that way and we are left frustrated. Frustration comes in many forms: spouse, children, work, ministry. You name it. We have all felt frustration. Many times if I take a step back and look at what is frustrating me, I will realize that I am not using what God gave me for the purpose He intended. Maybe I have forgotten His promise. Maybe I didn’t understand His intention like I thought. Maybe His purpose shakes up some deep rooted ideas. I don’t live for my purpose though. I live for His purpose.

​And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. - Romans 8:28 KJV

---

I am called for His purpose. His purpose brings clarity and proper perspective. When I step back from my thoughts and ideas and embrace His purpose, I lose the frustration. Have you seen a baby play with one of those shape toys? We had several different ones for my kids. They would get frustrated sometimes because the pieces would get mixed up. They would be trying to make the mixed up pieces work but it just wouldn’t.  What are you trying to make work that doesn’t fit in the space God has provided? Are you trying to fit your ideas into His purpose?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. - Matthew 11:28-29 KJV

Many times I have been confused by this verse. There have been times in my life that living for God didn’t feel like rest.  I have felt labored and heavy laden, not rested. I look back though and realize that the purpose I was working for and God’s purpose were at odds. I thought I had the right block.  It looked like it should fit in that hole, but I frustrated myself and probably others trying to make it work. Finally, I had to put down what I thought would work and pick up God’s purpose. My frustration went away when I realigned myself to His will and purpose.  I would love to say I never get frustrated anymore, but sadly that isn’t the case. It is a constant surrender of my ways for His ways. It is a constant refocusing of my purpose for His purpose. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV

His purpose will always be beyond our current comprehension. When I was fifteen years old I decided I would follow Jesus wherever He wanted me to go. Many times I have wondered if fifteen year old me had known what God had planned for my life, would I still have taken those steps. I know some of my decisions would have been different. Hard places I had to walk would have been avoided even though God had a purpose for those hard places. In the end though I will never regret choosing His purpose over mine. I will never regret being purposefully His.

---