purpose – herbcotton.org

Do You Believe That God Is In Control Of The Lives Of His Children?

Text:

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Observation:

To help me grasp the meaning of our focal verse, I looked at it through the lenses of the following passage.

Romans 8:26-30 (NLT)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

O, how wonderful and comforting is this passage for everyone who identifies themselves as members of the family God.

The sovereign God, who is our Maker is also our caretaker, and He is the keeper of our souls.

God has a purpose for our life, and He is the only one able to make such a promise and keep it. Nothing that happens to us in our life will be able to keep us from fulfilling our God ordained purpose.

Romans 8:37-39 (NLT)

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be your name. Father, we bring before You today our deep concern for some of your children who are facing difficult circumstances in their walk with You. Father, we pray that they will receive comfort in knowing that You care and that You are in control. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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Do You Really Know the Lord?

Text:

Exodus 33:12-14 (ESV)

12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’

13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Observation:

What is your purpose for being alive? What has God gifted you to do? Who is your source for help in accomplishing your purpose?

The Lord gave Moses a huge assignment. Moses talked to the Lord, and the Lord talked to Moses. Do you have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord?

Let’s examine some of the elements of the relationship that Moses had with the Lord.

Psalm 103:7-8 (ESV)

7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Notice that the Lord made known his ways to Moses. The key for Moses was his habit of talking to the Lord, and trusting in the Lord.

If you are willing to look to the Lord, He will give you the strength you need to accomplish your purpose.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer; trust in Him, and ask Him to exchange our weakness for His strength. Then take the next step in doing what the Lord tells you to do. Don’t forget, that you are never alone, and you always have everything you need to do God’s will.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Prayer:

Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV)

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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What Kind of People Make Good Decisions?

Text:

Psalm 25:4-5 (HCSB)

4 Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths.

5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.

Observation:

To make good decisions you need good information. David was experiencing difficulties in his life, but he knew where to go to get good information. This is what David knew about God, and what he knew about God’s will, and purpose for his life.

Psalm 139:13-16 (HCSB)

13 For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know [this] very well.

15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all [my] days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.

In his time of crisis, David knew where to go for help. When you don’t know what to do or where to go, you can find hope and help in the Lord. God has a purpose for your life, and He knows the way for you to fulfill the purpose for which you were made.

Psalm 25:1-2 (HCSB)

1 LORD, I turn to You.

2 My God, I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me.

The best decision you can make regarding the next step you should take is to ask the Lord to help you.

Psalm 25:4 (HCSB)

4 Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths.

You can never go wrong when you ask the Lord to help you, and when you walk in the way of the Lord.

Psalm 25:8-10 (HCSB)

8 The LORD is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

10 All the LORD’s ways [show] faithful love and truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees.

Prayer:

Father God, we glorify Your name. Father, give us a burning desire to seek Your face, to ask for your help, and to do what You tell us to do. Father, when You speak, may we learn to listen, and obey. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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The Secret Has Been Revealed

Text:

Psalm 25:14 (HCSB)

14 The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them.

Observation:

The people who walked closely and most frequently with Jesus when He walked the face of the earth saw something in Him that they valued most, and that is the thing they asked Him to teach them.

Luke 11:1 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

The most effective way we can live the overcoming life in the world is to live like Jesus lived when He was in the world, and took upon himself human flesh. What did He do?

John 5:30 (HCSB)

30 “I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

How then will you live your life? Will you do like Jesus, and take everything to God in prayer?

This is my favorite song that encourages and energizes my prayer life.

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, teach me how to pray. Father, protect my mind, and open my heart to know when to listen, and when to speak; when to wait, and when to go.

Father, help us to see that it is in the solitude of being in Your presence that we get the strength to do Your will.

Father, what I want for myself, and what I pray for others is that Your will be done in us on earth, as it is in heaven. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Are You Able to Fulfill Your Purpose?

Text:

Psalm 85:10-11 (HCSB)

10 Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.

11 Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven.

Observation:

There is nothing more persuasive and powerful than the heart that has been filled by the presence of the Holy Spirit of God; the presence of the the love of God in our heart.

Is the love of God present in your life? This is God’s promise to all who believe in Jesus, and have received Him.

John 1:12 (NLT)

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)

5 This hope will not disappoint ?us?, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

There is nothing that the child of God lacks. We have everything that we need to fulfill the purposes of God for our life. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You the praise and thanksgiving that You alone deserve.

Father, I am persuaded that I have everything that I need to fulfill the purpose for which I was born, and born again. Father, I am persuaded that the God who lives in me is greater than any difficulty, danger, or disappointment that I will ever encounter in my walk through this world.

Father, I am so glad that I am on my way to heaven, and that this world is not my home.

Father, thank You for bringing heaven to earth by sending the Holy Spirit of God, who is love, to live in my heart forever. Let all those who agree say, Amen.

—

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What Do You Need to Fulfill Your Purpose?

Text:

Philippians 1:1-2 (HCSB)

1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation:

Today, I look back at three of my favorite verses from Philippians, and I have heard from some of you that one or more of them are your favorites also.

These verses will encourage you as you seek to be all that God created you to be. God’s purpose for your life is that you would bring glory to Him, and that you would be a blessing to others.

Philippians 4:11 (HCSB)

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Philippians 4:13 (HCSB)

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:19 (HCSB)

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

In Christ, you can be who you are supposed to be, you can do what you are supposed to do, and you can have what you need to finish strong, and win the prize.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)

6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, I am so thankful for the purpose, potential, and power that You give to Your people to be who You made us to be, and to do what You want us to do.

Father, help us to remember that the victory comes when we look to You as the source for all of our needs. Lord, give us a faith that will not falter or fail; so that we will finish the race, and receive the prize. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Know Your Why?

Text:

John 12:44-50 (HCSB)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me.

45 And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

48 The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak.

50 I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

Observation:

This passage from my daily bible reading for today is speaking into my heart, and especially the portion I have chosen for our focal passage.

This passage is a concise, and powerful summary of the calling of Jesus, and His purpose for coming into the world.

What say you about Jesus? Do you know Him? Have you received Him into your life to be your Savior, and the Lord of your life?

John 1:12-13 (KJV)

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Every child of God has a purpose for being alive. Do you know your calling, and your purpose? Hear and receive what Jesus says to you. This is the prayer that Jesus prayed for you.

John 17:17-19 (HCSB)

17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, thank You for loving us with an everlasting love.

Father, we are humbled by the prayer that Jesus prayed for us, and the provisions He made for us, and the power that is His gift to us.

Father, help us to receive all that You give us, and be obedient children of God; our Father in heaven. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Desire to Know God’s Purpose for You?

Text:

Isaiah 61:1-3 (HCSB)

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,

3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him.

Observation:

This thought came to me as I was taking my daily walk to work my heart out.

However, the seed was planted during my daily bible reading before I left home for my walk.

I started with the scripture from Isaiah. Then my mind was focused on the word purpose. After reading the focal passage several times, I came up with the question I’m using as a title for today’s meditation.

I see the answer to the question in my title in verse three of our focal passage. This portion speaks to my heart, “And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him”.

God’s purpose for His people is to be holy, and to glorify Him. Notice what Paul says here.

Ephesians 1:4 (HCSB)

4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love.

Ephesians 1:14 (HCSB)

14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

Prayer:

Father, my goal is be the person You made me to be, and fulfill the purpose for which You made me, and remade me through Your sacrificial death as payment of my sin debt. Father, I embrace the goal of the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Hallelujah! Amen.

—

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What Is My Purpose for Being Alive?

Text:

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observation:

Jesus had a special name; an exalted name, the name that is above every name. His name also revealed His purpose for coming into the world.

Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

The word that is stuck in my head today is purpose. When I think about Jesus the next word that comes into my mind today is others. These words leap off the page, “He will save his people from their sins”.

O, that Christ followers today would learn from His example of having compassion and concern for others. Think about what Jesus did for you; He had us always on His mind.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we rejoice to exalt the name of Your darling son, Jesus.

Father, thank You for sending Him into the world so that we would not have to die for our own sins.

Father, help us to learn from His example, and be more others centered as we fulfill the purpose for which we are still alive today. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Who Does God Want You to Be?

Text:

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Observation:

This week I have been asking profound questions. I’m asking these questions because I want all of us to know and do the will and work of God in our lives each day that we are left in this world.

God has something to say to us, and I am looking and listening. When I hear from Him, it is my blessed privilege to share it with you.

Our focal passage gives us some insight and inspiration of who God wants us to be, and what He wants us to do.

First, God has chosen us to be His people. Notice how loving and compassionate God is toward us; we were not a people, but now we are God’s people. Oh yes, mercy suits our case, and God has given us mercy and His amazing grace.

Second, God tells us His purpose and our work plan. It is this, “That you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us because of His love for us”. The God who loves you also loves the whole world.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

His love for us should compel us to love one another as He has loved us. He wants us to love others with the love of our Lord.

John 13:34-35 (ESV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, your love amazes me at so many levels.

Father, I have seen in recent days how your love amazes the world when they see it demonstrated by your people in the Market Place. I have seen it in the court house in Charleston, and on the streets across America; not just in the church house, but in the Market Place.

Father, help us by the presence of the Holy Spirit of God, who lives in the hearts of your people, to be love to others. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

God wants you to be hopeful, and to be love because of this:

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)

5 This hope will not disappoint {us}, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.