"But for this purpose ..."

"The Purpose Driven Life" has been a big hit as a book and personal study. There is something about peeps that drive them to the meaning or "why" of life. While this focus on purpose has and can lead to a more productive and satisfied life, there is caution!!

When a peep makes sense of his/her purpose driven life thru a carnal mind, the point of purpose is self gratification, self-exaltation, and self righteousness, even when the purpose is "good". Mazlow's hierarchy notes the highest level of human need is SELF-ACTUALIZATION. Thus, the flesh (or human nature) seeks self above all else, even when the pursuit is deemed honorable by society (culture). The carnal mind leads us to believe "purpose" is about what we contribute, accomplish or achieve.

Is there another way to make sense of "purpose driven life"? Of course, if you have been reading my blogs you know by now there is the Kingdom mind. How is it different? Jesus gives us some insight into this when he explains His own sense of purpose (the account of this is John 12: 27 -36).

"But for this purpose I have come to this hour." Jesus is pointing to the Cross as the purpose to which He is driven. However, the preceding statement is often missed. He says, "Now is my soul troubled and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?" Wow, Jesus is acknowledging that His circumstances are not working in His favor. His goal is not faring well in the eyes of the world. It appears to all He is defeated, not winning. He admits this ain't fun. While Jesus' focus of goal accomplishment is not understood by the world, His situation still troubles Him. One option He admits is to be delivered from His situation, but he understands circumstantial deliverance is not consistent with His purpose.

Does this sound familiar to you? It seems we find ourselves more often "troubled" than victorious. We try to give to others but they don't seem grateful and sometimes even betray us. We try to be honorable in our actions and yet we often don't win. We "obey" God but He doesn't seem to prosper us. Yet, Jesus positions His notion of fulling purpose in the context of a "troubled soul." This doesn't sound like our approach to purpose. Remember, we want to fulfill our purpose so we can "look good" and are happy and fulfilled.

If we read on, we see another statement from Jesus, "This voice (God proclaiming His purpose) has come for YOUR SAKE, not mind." Oh, the point of our purpose is not us. Its NOT about OUR GLORY, its what God wishes for us with respect to someone else's benefit so God gets the glory. Maybe our purpose (like Jesus) comes from our actions which have circumstantial headwinds, not tailwinds, that visibly show our weakness, lack of self-sufficiency, and the absence of personal victory. Maybe its in our darkness that peeps see His light. Maybe that's our purpose.

I think that's the point. Jesus concludes with these words, "believe in the light, that you may become sons of light (peeps who shine)." Why do we spend so much time fretting about finding our purpose in life? Here it is, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine .."

So, when you are driven to find your purpose, BEWARE of the troubled soul because it is in circumstantial darkness that God's light will shine in your life :-)

Certainly worth pondering ......