Freedom; Our Purpose!

July 24, 2025

Freedom; Our Purpose!

I want to make a difference!

In other words, I want to leave something behind me that is lasting and loving.  I want to leave a legacy that will change the lives of other people in ways they will remember and celebrate and be grateful.

I want to make a difference with my life and my love and my faith in the Lord God.  But, walking aimlessly through each day will not achieve that goal.  If there is no point, no meaning, and no goal to each day, there ends up being no purpose for my life.

The good news is Jesus gives me the freedom to choose my purpose.  At the same time, Jesus may hound you, pursue you, and chase you down until you say “Yes!” to His dream for your life.  In the end, Jesus still gives you a choice to choose your purpose, your dream, your vision. 

The difficult thing about the freedom to choose our life purpose is that we have to decide what that purpose is.  We are left wondering, “Do I do this or that?”  “Do I go to this school or that school?”  “Do I leave this comfortable and well-paying job or do I take a risk on chasing God’s dream for my life?”

The apostles lived with Jesus every day for three years.  They listened to Jesus’ teaching, they watched Jesus’ healings, and they observed Jesus’ care for the marginalized.  They listened to Jesus’ correction and redirection, they ate meals with Jesus, and they spent time in prayer with Jesus.  They watched Jesus suffer painful torture, die on a cross, and be raised from death to life.

After all of that, the apostles still wondered what was next.  They wondered what they were supposed to do with their lives.  They were not clear about their life purpose.

According to the Apostle Matthew, the last words of Jesus to the apostles defines the purpose of their lives.  In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus says;

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

There are four components to Jesus’ statement about the apostles’ life-purpose; 

+Make disciples

+Baptize believers

+Teach God’s Word

+Remember I am always with you

It would make things easier for you and me if someone wrote down the purpose for our life.  But, even if it were that simple and that clear, I still have the freedom to choose whether I live into that purpose and how passionately I chase after that purpose.

When I was in high school and college, I thought my life purpose was to work in a career in retail management.  All of my education was focused in helping me to live into that purpose.  It was an exciting time! 

Although Jesus gave me the freedom to chase after that life-purpose, Jesus had something else in mind for my life.

Jesus wanted me to proclaim and announce and share the Gospel; Jesus wanted me to be a preacher!  I resisted that calling, I argued with Jesus about that calling, and I ran away from that calling.  I did not believe being a preacher fit with my personality, my priorities, or my plan.  So, I told Jesus, “No!”  Jesus gave me the freedom to choose my life-purpose and I used that freedom!

However, my soul was unsettled.  I felt tormented and tortured and troubled rather than my soul being filled with peace and joy.  Jesus tried a second time to re-define and clarify His purpose for my life.  I said, “No!” a second time. 

When Jesus tried a third time to invite me into His purpose for my life, I negotiated a deal with Jesus.  That deal did not go very far.  Somewhat reluctantly, I finally said, “Yes!” to Jesus calling.  My life-purpose was to be a preacher!

Discerning your purpose in life is not always easy. 

+Sometimes you have to try some things to discover your life-purpose. 

+Sometimes you have to engage your friends and family in conversation about the purpose for your life.  +Always you have to spend time in conversation with Jesus. 

Some might hear a call to be in full-time ministry as a career.  Or, you might hear a call to be a teacher, a mechanic, a computer programmer, a small business owner, a farmer, a politician, a parent, etc.. 

When you are clear about your life purpose and have used the freedom God gives you to choose that life-purpose, the Holy Spirit will fill your soul with peace and joy.  As you live into that purpose, your heart will overflow with more and more delight.  And, your life will make a lasting difference; you will leave a legacy behind you!   

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug