Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT)
We’ve been on a series discussing skills you can build to experience more joy. In addition to these skills, there are three things we all need to focus on if we want to live joy-filled lives. We’ve talked about the first two already: relationships and health. Today we will discuss the third: purpose.
What is your purpose in life? Sometimes Christians assume that they just need to get closer to God and that’s the key to fulfilment. Of course relationship comes first, but if you build your relationship with Him and ignore your purpose, you’ll still be unhappy.
Now, when I talk about purpose, I’m not referring to your individual calling that’s based on your unique gifts and abilities. The career you have and the volunteer opportunities you take part in can change, and that’s OK. What I’m talking about is the overall purpose we all share as followers of Christ.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus talked about seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but in Matthew 28:19–20 He also gave us the Great Commission, which wasn’t “go deep.” He said to go out. We need to put God first and build a relationship with Him, but Jesus also wants us to go into our world, befriending people and inspiring them to want to know Jesus.
Do you focus on this purpose for your life—the one we all share as Christians? Experience the joy of leading others to Jesus!