JOY FROM FULFILMENT OF GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE

Image source: CompellingTruth

When we do things for which we have a natural ability, we feel a sense of joy. When we do things for which we have a purpose, a goal, a mission, we also feel a sense of joy. While we often identify our purpose through our skills and talents, we also dedicate ourselves to missions and purposes set by others as long as we believe in them. When we fulfil these missions and purposes based on our beliefs and convictions, we also feel a sense of joy. Let’s look at the case of Paul and Silas in the Bible.

The book of Acts Chapter 15 closes with Paul and Silas sent off on mission. In Chapter 16 and verse 9, after Paul and Silas had travelled through the Turkish cities of Derbe, Lystra, and Galatia, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia (Greece) begging him “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul and Silas left immediately for Greece convinced that God had given them a mission to go preach in Greece. The first Greek town where they started their preaching was Philippi.

At Philippi they met a slave girl who was a fortune-teller, and Paul cast out the spirit of fortune-telling from her. The slave girl’s owners were no longer able to make money, so they organized a city-wide protest against Paul and Silas. Both men were severely beaten and thrown in jail. Both men were sure they were fulfilling God’s purpose, and at midnight decided to pray and sing.

Acts 16:25-26 (NIV) says: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

Paul and Silas could pray and sing while beaten and jailed because they were on mission; their circumstances did not determine their mood; fulfilling their God-given purpose determined their mood. Everyone will experience good times, hard times, bad times; if you stay on mission, on track to fulfil your God-given purpose, your joy will never be stolen from you. What is your God-given purpose? We will look into the old Adamic and the new Kingdom purpose next week, stay tuned!.

To God be the glory, great things he continues to do, Amen!