Our purpose in life

 9 Dec 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Our purpose in life

This verse includes two significant results of Christ's death and resurrection. God works in us to make us the kind of people that would please him, and he equips us to do the kind of work that would please him. Let God change you from within and then use you to help others.


“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reflections

The devotional here pulls our focus to two things that speaks of our purpose in life. 


  1. Being in Christ transforms us to someone whom He has designed us to be
  2. The gifts that He presents us with, are to be used to glorify our Father in Heaven


I’m not sure about you but I had at one point question my own existence. Like what am I doing here on this earth? Because I see myself as worthless, not contributing to society, undeserving, etc.. all because someone has been gaslighting me, putting me down and making me feel worse than being alive. Like an ant or a cockroach can probably do better than me. That was me, more than ten years ago.


Retrospectively, I thank and forgive the person who did that to me. Otherwise I will be filled with pride, and it will be hard for me to even try to humble myself because I had so much confidence that I may even be seen as proud. That experience brought me to ground zero, flat on the ground. I went into a state of depression but didn’t really go for any form of counselling. I believed God helped me to walk out of it, realising it’s all in the mind.


His mercies and grace is sufficient for me. He helped me to focus on the more important things, to prioritise Him in my life. Slowly, I began to see how putting Him as the center can change many things. When we honour Him and obey His commands, trusting Him always, changes happen. There is much peace within me that I don’t get too affected by what is on the outside. He allows me to have a whole different view of things from a higher up perspective so that I don’t really fret the small stuff or keep ruminating.


In one of my end of year CG retreat or something, our CG leader helped us to focus on our gifts. She further explained that each of us are given gifts from the Lord. However, it is up to us what we do with it. Some of us received the gift eagerly but put it aside. Some of us received the gift in fear and dare not even see what it was. Some of us received the gift in enthusiasm and started using the gift without reading the instructions.. whatever it is, we are definitely given gifts. Gifts that help further His ministry. Gifts when put into good use, can also bring about changes to our personality and character.


I feel that sometimes we overlooked our gifts, thinking it is nothing much. However, take a look around us. Not everyone is gifted in administration, hospitality, mercy, teaching, etc. All of us can come to God and ask Him how He wants us to use our gifts. May the Lord grant us willing hearts and the obedience to follow His commands. May He also grant us the courage to step up and step out of our own comfort zones and bring glory to Him. No more of being a hermit and hiding from the world. It is time for all fellow brothers and sisters to unite and stand as one. To

God be the glory!

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