Glorious Purpose

I may have mentioned once or twice that my word for the year is PURPOSE. I always capitalize it because, well, why not? And because in order to differentiate it from the other words in the paragraph, I would either have to italicize it, or put it in single quotation marks, and that’s just a no from me.

Anyhoo.

I was thinking the other day about the Gospel. That amazing story of grace and forgiveness that applies to me. To you. To everyone who will choose to put their faith in Christ.

And I honestly asked myself how many times I’ve shared the Gospel with someone since we came home from the field.

And then I gulped.

And hung my head.

Not nearly as often as I should.

I haven’t actively avoided it, and I certainly take the opportunity to share the Word of God with my fellow Christians. I discuss the Lord and the Word a LOT with people who already know Him.

Like, A LOT.

But what about those who don’t know Him?

As I was contemplating this, and talking to the Lord about it, the phrase from a Marvel movie popped into my head. Doesn’t that happen to you when you discuss things with the Lord?

There’s a villain named Loki who thinks he is the gods’ gift to the universe. And when he comes to earth he makes the statement again and again: “I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose.

“Hmm…glorious purpose…

And now we see how this comes full circle to my word of the year: PURPOSE.

Do I realize what glorious purpose I carry with me? Am I truly burdened to share it? Do I really desire to see others come to Christ, and gain: peace with God, strength, comfort, and hope through the glorious Gospel of Jesus?

Yes and yes. And yes again.

When I think of all that I have been forgiven of, when I think of the depths of sacrifice Christ went to in order that I could be redeemed and reconciled to God, how can I keep silent? Jesus has changed so much in my life. I used to be an unkind person. Okay, actually I was mean. Perhaps not always out loud, but in my mind almost constantly. And negative. Sarcastic. Lazy.

Perhaps my worst trait was pride. I didn’t think anyone could do anything better than I could. And I let them know it. I didn’t need anyone. I certainly wasn’t like THOSE PEOPLE who needed forgiven. I was FINE.

And then through the years, the Lord began to soften me. He challenged me. What was really going to happen to me after I died? Was I confident that I would go to Heaven? The truth was, I wasn’t confident. I was actually terrified. See, I had grown up in church. I knew a lot of the Bible. I knew the Gospel, and had even shared it with people. The problem was, I didn’t actually believe I needed it for myself. I had never let go of my pride and repented before the Lord.

But in July of 2004 I was gloriously changed by the cross of Jesus.

It sounds trite because so many people have misused the name of Jesus, but He really is the answer to whatever you are missing. He really is.

I am including a link to a sermon our pastor recently preached that is excellent. It was our Good Friday service. It is also full of testimonies of people who have been changed by the cross of Jesus. I recommend giving it a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neO3CgVf4zw

The Gospel is powerful. Life-changing. Real.

Christian, are you burdened with glorious purpose?

Romans 1:16-17
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.(17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

2 Corinthians 4:1-7
(1) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
(2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
(4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

1 Timothy 1:11-17
(11) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
(12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
(13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
(14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
(16) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
(17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.