DEVTOTIONS

Monday, October 16 – “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) Your purpose in life is just that, your purpose. Nobody can tell you, your purpose.  Yes, many will try, but nobody can.  You will only find your purpose in life by having a relationship with the one who created you.  Now, there are markers, guideposts out there for which to look.  One of these is “love”.  Whatever your purpose, it will have to do with love.  Love for yourself.  Love for God.  Love for the world.  And love for others. 

Tuesday, October 17 – “My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) What’s one way to know that you’re living into your God given purpose?  Your life will no longer be about the pursuit of the stuff of this world.  Things like food, clothing, possessions and power will no longer motivate you, as they once did.  Not that you won’t need the stuff of this world.  But the stuff of this world won’t be your main motivation.  You won’t do what you do, so that you can get.  You will be who you are, so that you can do.          

Wednesday, October 18 – “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Bearing fruit is your purpose in life.  What fruit you will bear is anybody’s guess.  But bearing some kind of fruit, through who you are and what you do, is your purpose in life.  For what good is your life, if you don’t bear fruit?  A non-fruit bearing life is simply a life of existing – eating, drinking, sleeping and breathing.  Lather, rinse and repeat.  A life that adds nothing of value and consumes precious resources.  Don’t know your purpose?  Start with a relationship with Jesus and see what happens. 

Thursday, October 19 – “For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.” (Ephesians 5:9) Is your life bearing fruit?  If you’re not sure, here’s a little test:  When you examine what you do in your life, does it demonstrate the qualities of “goodness, righteousness and truth”?  If your answer is “No”, then you have your work cut out for you.  The work of discovering your purpose.  If your answer is “Yes”, then you also have your work cut out for you.  The work of continuing in your purpose.  For being a fruit-bearer isn’t a once-and-done proposition.  It’s a life-long endeavor. 

Friday, October 20 – “But what happens when we live God’s way?  He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.  We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.  We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” (Galatians 5:22-23) If you’ve ever wondered what it means to live a life, that bears fruit, here you have it.  Read it again and again.  Study it.  And then start living it. 

Saturday, October 21 – “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:6) This world will tell you your life’s purpose.  Other people will tell you your life’s purpose.  Yet, there’s only once source that is both trustworthy as well as correct.  And that’s Jesus.  And here’s the good news – Your life’s purpose isn’t meant to be a secret.  Yes, you have to search it out.  Yes, you have to try things, on your own.  Yes, you do have to invest yourself, into the pursuit.  And yes, you do have to live a life of faith.  But it’s all worth it.  It’s all worth finding out why you exist, in this time and in this place.  It’s worth it to be all that God has created and gifted you to be.