Ephesians 1: 11 “Preparing for Purpose” 7/21/2019 Rev. Jerry W. Krueger Boardman UMC
Asking for directions we say, “I need some help finding a location.” And the other will inquire, “Where are you going?”
We ask that question, “where are you going?” of young persons, young adults, middle-aged adults, 50 something’s, the retired, etc. It is a question not so much about location, but rather, “Where are you going? Why are you here? What is your mission/purpose in life itself?”
Often, we portend we want to go it alone. We may possess the ability to do whatever we want with our lives. But honestly, we need help in finding our life purpose because, you see, God made us that way.
In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Quohlet, the Teacher, as he is called, attempts to address the meaning of life. In Ecc. 1: 2, the Teacher says, “Efforts, endeavors are meaningless. Everything is meaningless!”
Yet even when we think all is lost, the writer of the book concludes, “after all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God.” Ecc. 12:13.
Every search for purpose is meant to lead us to the One who gave us the drive to search. None of us know ourselves completely. We need help in figuring out why we are here. Proverbs 3: 5 tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
The NT letter to the church at Ephesus, called Ephesians, was written by a man named Paul. Formerly called Saul, this devout Jew, well trained as a Pharisee, & a strict observer of Jewish law, was making a name for himself as a hunter of Christians.
Saul was obsessed with punishing these deviants from Judaism, these followers of an itinerant Jewish crucified rabbi called Jesus.
On the way to Damascus to find and persecute more Christians, the voice of Christ comes to Saul on the Damascus road, and Jesus asks, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul is blinded by the experience, and recuperates for three days in darkness. Saul’s eyes are opened physically and spiritually, and eventually he is called Paul. Paul’s writings precede the Gospels and his written account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are the first written proclamations of their kind.
Paul read and knew the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) the Prophets (major and minor) particularly Isaiah, and historical books like Kings and Chronicles. Saul/Paul had experienced the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, and reinterprets his understanding of scripture. New light is shed on old and familiar passages.
Paul is finding a new purpose, not as a persecutor of Christians, but as an evangelist, a missionary, a devout believer in the risen Christ, compelled to tell the world that Jesus Christ gives us a new way to live.
Paul connects with people. He could talk to the mightily elevated and to the person whose life was average. Paul found commonality with everyone in all conversation. Are we able to do that? Connect with those so different from us?
We usually can connect on a deep level after we find out likes/dislikes. But our faith, our Christian faith, is understood in the context of Christian community. If we choose to live our life in isolation, our skills and talents are unavailable to others.
Part of Paul’s purpose, and for each of us, is to develop a deeply close personal connection with Christ. Paul reflected on his life in Christ by reading, meditating, praying, & conversing with the Lord. Do we do the same, or do we let someone else do our spiritual formation and relationship building FOR us?
In college, my friend Marilyn was in love with David. They were uniquely fitted for each other, enjoyed each other’s company, loved to read, listen to music, and be outdoors. However, Marilyn’s roommate thought the relationship was not structured correctly. Essentially an outsider tried to foist ground rules on Marilyn and Dave’s relationship that didn’t dovetail with either of their wants, needs, or desires.
To have a relationship with Christ, it must be YOUR relationship. Do you know what a legacy membership is? When previous family members have belonged to some group, and you receive favor because of that relationship in being brought in. But folks, our faith life is NOT like that. Your relationship is built on you and Christ. Not your parents, not your grandparents, not your preachers, not your kids, or spouses or friends. You and Christ.
Early in his ministry Paul told people how to live. But later, he learned followers and seekers of Christ must learn to understand their needs and relationship from Christ.
To discover our own purpose for living like Paul, we need to know that we are not unlocking our purpose. We are already living it out. We don’t wait for the future to live out a life in Christ. We live it NOW.
We can’t try to gain God’s favor, just know that we are already favored. Living with purpose means we affirm we belong to God and are meant to enjoy God’s company. We exist to be in relationship with God.
Living out a purpose of knowing God means we desire what God wants, that all come to know Christ, and to free people from their sins, injustice, poverty, oppression, and exploitation.
Living out a purpose of knowing God means giving ourselves away. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
If you define your purpose as a career, what happens when you retire? If your purpose is defined as raising kids, what happens when they grow up?
If we desire to live in harmony with God and be open to ways God can use us, then how we express our purpose will change many times.
We close considering these thoughts:
Who do you believe God calls you to be? Your life is not just about you. Don’t limit your purpose to a specific location or a specific role.
We can all be called to serve in different ways in different places.
Do you have a purpose currently?
What does your purpose, or lack of purpose, say about the meaning of your life?
Hear this scripture from Ephesians 1: 11: “We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the purpose of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design.”
Receive your inheritance, know God has called each of you to a purpose and a purposeful life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
