A Purpose-Driven Life

Mark 1: 35 – 39 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Word spread quickly about this man called Jesus. After He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, people lined up outside their door. He spent the rest of the evening and far into the night healing people.

Don’t you know He was exhausted? But He didn’t stop. He didn’t turn anyone away. Finally, he closed His eyes for a bit of rest, but He was up before anyone else the next morning. He went away to pray. When the others, who were also weary, finally woke up, they said, “Where’s Jesus?”

“I dunno. I thought you knew.”

“I haven’t seen Him.”

Before long, they formed a search party and went looking for Jesus. When they found Him, they said, “There you are! Everyone is looking for you.”

Now, if I had been Jesus (aren’t we all glad I’m not?) I would have been tempted to stay right where I was. I mean, think about it. These people loved Him! He had been thrown out of His hometown, and now He was at a place where He was the most popular guy around. They couldn’t get enough of Him. Yep, I would have hung around a while, and basked in the accolades of those folks.

But not Jesus. He had work to do. He had a purpose, and He never once allowed Himself to forget that purpose. There were people out there who needed His touch, His message, His love. They needed to know Him, and the One Who sent Him. He couldn’t stop, or even slow down.

Hmmmm. This makes me look at myself, at the way I spend my time, in a new light. I have purpose in my life, no doubt about it. I want to love my children and my family and friends with all the love that God has placed in my heart for them. I want to tell the rest of the world, with my small voice, how much God loves them.

But all too often, I get sidetracked. I forget my purpose, and I get caught up in things that in no way fulfill that purpose. I waste time. Friends, God has an important purpose for each of us. Are we living it? Or are we getting off track, getting caught up in things that really don’t matter? Now that I really think about it, I don’t want to waste any time. Like Jesus, I want to press onward and forward, living the life that He wants me to live.

Oh, God, forgive me. I want to live out Your calling on my life, in work, in play, even in rest. I want to stay so focused on that purpose that, like Jesus, I refuse to get sidetracked.

Amen

Dear Friends, As many of you are reading this on Wednesday morning, my dad will be in surgery. Please keep him, as well as all the doctors and nurses, in your prayers.

Thanks.

–r