Transforming Tuesdays:Recognize Your Purpose Driven Life

Finally we are in the book of Matthew, which talks about the birth of Jesus the Messiah! I cannot wait until we get deeper into this book.  In Matthew Chapter 1, we see the lineage from Abraham to Jesus.  The story of the birth of Jesus in itself is absolutely amazing.  I remember learning this story in Sunday School, but reading it today, I was able to grasp the full concept of who Jesus is and what he represents. 

The Bible says that Mary and Joseph were basically scheduled to be married, but before that happened she found out that she was pregnant with the Holy Spirit.  Now I don’t know about you, but I know that I could not even fathom going to my parents claiming to be a virgin, while with child.  However, the thought of this doesn’t matter because God didn’t choose me to conceive Jesus.  Just as my previous thought process, Joseph could not understand how Mary was pregnant and the Bible mentions that he had secret plans to divorce her.  Now when I first read this I felt so bad, but honestly how many times do we see broken families because spouses refuse to raise children that aren’t their own??? Sadly it happens far too often.  How many of you would raise a child that is not yours if you were told that the child would be GREAT?  I bet that changes things.  This too changed things for Joseph because an angel visited him in his dream where he was told not to leave Mary and that her son was conceived from the Holy Spirit.  From there the angel told Joseph to name the baby Jesus because he will deliver the people [us] from their sins.  Thank you JESUS!  Joseph was obedient and from there he took Mary as his wife. 

Do you know what purpose means? Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: something set up as an object or end to be attained; intention; resolution; determination.  Jesus was born with a purpose driven life.  The beauty in this is that we are all born with purpose driven lives.  Now none of us are born from virgins but when God created us, he did so with purpose in mind and I pray that we all fulfill our purposes before he wants his angels [us] back.  Jesus had the task of saving us from our sins, which meant that he would have to die a brutal death all for you and me.  Although I am not a parent, I consider myself THE WORLD’S BEST/GREATEST AUNT (my nephew & neice tell me that) and I could not imagine the thought of them being subject to pain because of the actions of others, especially if those same people refused to acknowledge who they are.  I will just let that thought sink in because I don’t want to address future reading.  With that being said Jesus was born with an ultimate goal where he proved to be the ultimate sacrifice.

I feel like we, as Christians get a little confused with purpose.  I say this to say that we often forget that with purpose comes direction, and with direction comes rules and guidelines that we are all subject to.   Exodus 20-21 illustrates the furtherance of Moses’s purpose through the Ten Commandments.  This was the first time that we see God enforcing a law system.  These commandments offer guidance and direction for spiritual living and moral conduct.  They are as follows:

1.     Thou shalt have no other gods before me.


Only trust in God

2.     Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.


Don’t worship idols

3.     Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Respect God and the things of God

4.     Remember the sabbeth day, and keep it holy.

Take time to reflect and pray

5.     Honour thy father and thy mother.


Respect your elders

6.     Thou shalt not kill.


Don’t kill and respect all life, because God created them

7.     Thou shalt not commit adultery.


Respect sex and marriage

8.     Thou shalt not steal.


Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you, and be honest

9.     Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.


Be true and honest even if you have to stand alone, because God is by your side

10. Thou shalt not covet.

Only desire what God wants for you

These commandments we put in place after the Israelites were freed from slavery and wondering into the wilderness under the direction of Moses.  If you violate one of the Ten Commandments, then you have committed a sin [we all have].  However, you are encouraged to repent for those sins once you do; and remember that every sin carries the same weight in the eyes of God.  It is man that places different levels of punishment on humans.  For instance, if I were to lie and my neighbor were to kill, to God that is the same thing.  Unfortunately, society places a higher punishment on someone who chooses to kill.  At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, God’s law governs. 

Are you living your purpose driven life?  Do you know what purpose means? Do you know your purpose?  Are you seeking direction and guidance?  Are you following the rules and guidelines?  I can promise you that if you don’t know what your purpose is, that if you seek God you will find out exactly what it is.  It’s okay not to know now because a lot of us don’t know, but as long as you let God use you just as Joseph, Mary, Aaron, and Moses, God will deliver his end of the bargain.  

FIND YOUR PURPOSE GREATNESS IN THE LORD AWAITS YOU :) 

Transforming Tuesdays: Jamera

Melinda Watts - Purpose Driven Life

Also if you are looking for more guidance in living your purpose driven life, please check out a book titled, "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. It is absolutely excellent and I was first introduced to its impact when I would attend a Bible Study given by my Uncle with numerous other young adults. It is truly powerful.