Assignments

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” II Timothy 1:8-9

Purpose. It’s what we are all supposed to have. We have a “purpose-driven life,” our career should give us “purpose,” we have a “purpose” in our ministry. But the Bible doesn’t talk about our purpose, it talks about God’s. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Italics are even from the NKJV, so extra important!). God has a purpose. We have assignments. 

I’ve decided in my young age of 43 to go back to grad school. Each week I have readings and a written assignment and a test. These weekly tasks will eventually lead to a graduate program certificate that will ideally accomplish the larger “purpose” of a career change or advancement. But I can’t jump to that ending without the little assignments—or works—along the way. And even if I don’t ace every test or get each assignment correct, I’ll still get to graduate and get that snazzy certificate of achievement. 

It’s the same with our faith. We are called to love God, obey His word, love others. If we do those assignments (works), God will use us toward His purpose—the bigger goal of the kingdom. But if I don’t do the small assignments along the way learning and listening to Him, and even take a few wrong turns time and again, my perceived “purpose” will most likely be self-serving and not God-serving, and so fall flat.