“Our Common Purpose” by Kevin Meyer
What is my purpose?
A question of profound significance. Life must have meaning and purpose for us to live out and experience our full potential. Books have sold millions of copies on the subject of a purpose driven life. Millions of dollars are spent on seminars by desirous seekers looking to find purpose. We search for purpose in our employment, building a family or a myriad of other activities.
When life is void of purpose and meaning, we seek happiness driven by the baser instincts of pain avoidance and pleasurable pursuits. Nature abhors a vacuum as the adage goes.
The question of purpose often comes up when discussing what the will of God is for our lives. Often, we are searching for this significance of our being which will align us with a vision God has given to us personally or collectively as a body.
“My purpose is to build a church!” or “My purpose is to feed the poor!”. These are good things to do and are certainly a better alternative to pursuing a life focused on satisfying the flesh, but is there an even higher calling?
It may well be that God has called you to build a church or to feed the poor. Perhaps these works are not so much your purpose though as much as they are the means by which your purpose is manifested. Perhaps you and I have a common purpose, regardless of the good works we have been individually assigned. A purpose that unites us with all the remnant of God. A singular purpose that leads to the manifestation of the Kingdom in the earth. A purpose hidden in the Name of Jesus.
“For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” Matt 23:39. Jesus was quoting Ps 118:26 as He lamented over the desolation of Jerusalem and the gathering of its children unto Him. He then speaks of the destruction of the temple within this city of God. This seems to spark a discussion amongst the early disciples about the timing of these events and His ultimate return.
Some interpret this scripture to point to the second advent or return of the Lord Jesus. If, however, we expand our understanding of the name of Jesus, we may find some greater insight into our common purpose.
To many, praying “in the name of Jesus” merely means closing our prayers by saying “in Jesus’ name”, as if these are the magic words needed to have our prayers answered, let alone heard. The name of someone embodies more than just the identification by which to address them. When I think of my earthly father, George, his name means more than just what he was called. It brings to my mind his nature, the way he was, the character of the man.
If we substitute the word nature for name, it gives us better insight into scripture verses like ‘ Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my nature (name).’ Jesus’ nature was divine. His way of being was anchored in doing the will of the Father and was an expression of pure love. It is a way of being that magnifies the good, the beautiful and the true. When our prayers and petitions are expressed in this nature, i.e., motivated by love and in accordance with the will of the Father, our Father hears and answers us.
‘Blessed is he who comes in the nature (name) of the Lord’. If we look at this scripture verse from this perspective, it reveals an opportunity for the advent of the Lord in a way that is relevant in the day we find ourselves and the age we are entering. “You will not see me again, until you say…”, once we are able to identify the divine nature of God manifested in His people, we are able to see Him again.
Instead of living in an escapism mentality waiting to be raptured out of here, scriptures such as “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” take on new meaning. We realize the blessed ones come in His nature and our catching up is a rising above the earthly realm, it is a transformation. Leaving behind the conformity to this world and the lie, which is the word that is not God and is in opposition to the word that is God.
This transformation is nothing less than our restoration. Our worldly way of being, this human nature, which is broken and fallen, is supplanted by the divine nature. We are restored back into a relationship with the Divine Father and become participative in His righteousness, a way of being demonstrated to us through the Life of the Son. In like manner our relationship with one another is restored. Love abounds and binds us together. “Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up…” Ps 122:3,4.
Instead of our purpose in life being unique and individualistic, perhaps it is similar and common to all the saints of God and His remnant.
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”. 1 Peter13-16
Our restoration connects us with this purpose. It is our purpose. We are to be “holy”, sanctified and set apart for His use. Manifesting His will is to live our lives as an expression of His way of being, righteousness being restored. As has been said, righteousness is right thinking leading to right actions.
“Let us not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom 12:2.
Let us have the mind of Christ. Know that God is for us, not against us. Know that He is not willing that any should perish but that all would be delivered from this corrupt way of being, the blood of Jesus has accomplished that. Know that He has called and destined us to a way of being. Our purpose is to participate in and manifest the Divine Nature of Righteousness, which at its foundation is love. We have been given Holy Spirit to accomplish this.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Phil 1:9-11.
Let the day of Christ continue to be revealed, yield to the Spirit within.
• Kevin Meyer is a ministry son and elder of Active Living Ministries in Appleton, WI. You can contact Kevin at k.cmeyer@yahoo.com
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