Some of The Purposes of God

My favorite Bible character next to Jesus is the Apostle John. I love to read his books and as a matter of fact I am reading through the Gospel of John right now in preparation for an initiative our church is calling “Find it Here.” It has again been such a blessing to me to read after the man that Jesus loved. The man that was leaning on Jesus during the Lord’s Supper. The man that was exiled for Jesus to an island in the middle of the Mediterranean called Patmos. There is so much in the book of John to be learned. There is a lot about love and there is a lot about purpose.

There are three primary purposes found in the book. The first is our purpose of existence found in John 11:52b. ...“and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” Your Godly purpose to be in existence is to have the opportunity to be a part of the children or Kingdom of God. This is why the Creator God created you and the reason you have life. That life, just like the lives of those whom you are praying for, is by grace to know Him as a born-again child.

Second, we find the purpose of Jesus coming as God incarnate to this earth. John 12:27 states this purpose as, ““Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” Jesus during the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the beginning what is known today as passion week states His purpose clearly. Savior of the world, Savior of those whom trust Him (2 Cor. 5:15), Redeemer, Friend, King, King Jesus! People need to know why Jesus came. Most would accept that He was here. A Muslim would accept the fact that Jesus walked the earth but they don’t know why He came.

Third, we can find the purpose of the Gospel in the book of John. The entire purpose of the book is found in John 20:31. “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The purpose of John writing the Gospel of John, the Good News of John, the true story of Jesus according to the apostle John is that you may know, that you may believe that this King Jesus is the Son of God. The Mormons that knock on your door may say they are a witness of Jesus Christ and are His saints in the latter days but they do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. Ask John, “to YOU who is Jesus?” He will tell you that Jesus was, is and always will be the Son of the Living God, God Almighty, God the Creator of all that exists. This IS the Good News and you have it in your hands.

I am thankful God has a purpose for us. I am also so thankful that purpose included all the promises, joy, fulfillment and the blessed relationship with Jesus. Lord Jesus, show us more of the purpose you have for each of us and help us to rejoice in Your truths of Your Word. Amen.