Purpose

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Everyone likes to feel that they are useful.  There is nothing worse than being in a job where you could be gone and no one would ever know it.  People often say that they feel useless.  I have had some people say to me, "What is my purpose?"  It is a logical question and probably one that everyone has to have an answer for.  Whether it be a person's job or their position in life, the question seems to be the same, "Why am I here?"  "What is my purpose in life?"  While working with the children and youth for a number of years, the questions would always come up being, "Where did I come from?"  "Why am I here?" and "Where am I going?"  How would you answer those questions.  The middle one is the one that we are thinking about today.  What is my purpose in life?  The Apostle Paul summed it up rather well with the following statement:  First Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."   Now, for some, that would seem to be an answer that is far too simple.  They might then go on and say almost immediately, "Yes, but..."  The reason that they would want to say something is that they don't like the answer.  People want to feel that there is more to life.  They would like to add to it, "My purpose is to make a million dollars by the time I am 40."  or, "My purpose is to be the president of a company by the time I am 35."  That might be a personal goal, but it isn't the goal that God has for every person...to give glory to Him.  The question might come up as to how we can accomplish this goal.  How can I give God glory in this life?  Again, the answer is simple.  Do what He says.  Those four words, while short and simple, encompass the Scriptures and everything that is in them.  Do you want to know how to give God glory?  If so, you would need to live your life according to His instruction manual.  If we call the Bible that, perhaps we can take a look into it and find out what God's instructions are for this life.  He even sent His Son to give us a first hand account of what we are to do.  Jesus told Nicodemus that we need to be born again.  Jesus went on to say that we also are considered to be branches on the vine and that He is the vine.  Jesus also mentioned that we are to keep His commandments.  So, the question today is "How are you going to glorify God?"  I don't think that breaking any of the commandments would be acceptable, or mumbling and grumbling or being involved in some sin or another.  Those things certainly wouldn't be on the list of things to do in order to glorify God.  So, start out by saying a short prayer telling God that you really want to glorify Him today.  Praise God today that He still waits for us to glorify Him in all that we do.