WHY WAS I BORN? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE FOR LIVING?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:10)

MEDITATION:
Why was I born? What is my purpose for living?
These are two questions that many people have.

Have you ever thought about how you would like for God to use you
in His ministry? For me, I would have preferred for Him to use me
in the area of music, or sports. But God has His own plans for us,
doesn’t He?

We shouldn’t be surprised if His plans require us to leave our
‘comfort zone’. Why would He do that? It would have to be so
we would realize that we are dependent on Him to accomplish
His purpose for us, right? God wants our ‘dependence’ and not
our ‘independence’. Independence says, “I don’t need God’s help.”
That kind of thinking leads to egotism, and not toward humility.

In my case, His plans included leading bible study classes, and later
He added distributing devotionals. Keep in mind, I am not what one
would call a ‘voracious reader’. In addition, I’m not one who is bent
toward preparing presentations or standing in front of people to speak.

But His plans for me involved all three: reading, preparing and presenting
(which included standing in front of others to lead discussions). However, 
He did not have these plans for me without giving me the capacity to follow 
His plans.

I have often thought,
    “What if God didn’t have a plan for me?”
would I feel left out since the Bible tells us He,
    “created us in Christ Jesus to do good works”.
If I understand this passage correctly, God has plans for everyone
who has accepted His salvation. Why would I say that? Because
the passage above includes “us” in Christ Jesus.

Another thought I have had is,
    “What if I didn’t agree to do the good works,
      He prepared for me to do?”
What blessings would I miss out on if I failed to follow His plans for me?
And, what would be the purpose of my being born and living a life on earth?

Everyone has a date of birth and a date of death, but what happens between
those two dates is what defines us as adopted members of God’s family, when
we have received His salvation. God didn’t bless us with salvation and expect
us to continue living as we were before being saved. He also didn’t save us to
‘sit’; He saved us to do what He has planned for us to do.

He saved us so that we could have a new and exciting purpose for living.
When we do the ‘good works’ in His plan for us, we become a living
testimony of our belief and dedication to our Heavenly Father.
    But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
    Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show
    you my faith by my deeds.
    (James 2:18)

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Am I fulfilling the plans God created in advance for me?
       If not, then what is preventing me
       from doing what He has planned for me?
    – Have I thought about the blessings I could be missing out on,
       because I delayed (or refused) to do what He has specifically
       designed for me?

God loves us and wants us to enjoy our time on earth. He has
created a path for His purpose, and for our pleasure. He hasn’t
“prepared in advance” things for us to do that will be a burden
for us.
    In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.
    And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone
    born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory
    that has overcome the world, even our faith.
    (1 John 5:3-4)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing a path for me to serve You
and receive Your blessings. Forgive me if I have failed to do the good
works You expect from me. Help me to clearly understand and commit
to the plans You have for me. Give me the courage to follow Your plans
even if they are different from what I would choose. I know that I am
obediently doing the good works You have planned for me, I will enjoy
new blessings and have a new purpose for living. Thank You for loving
me enough to include me in Your plans.”

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