The Reality of Purpose.
our ultimate purpose & design is to give god glory.
Purpose: the reason for which something is created; the reason for which it exists.
The truth is that many of us want to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. We want to contribute to something greater than ourselves. We want to be a part of something that adds value to our lives, something that adds value to us. The pursuit can often seem relentless until we realise that while we have been running hard after something, it feels as though we’ve really been chasing the wind.
At some point many of us have or continue to ask ourselves, “What am I doing with my life?” With society telling us we need to do this and be that, it’s hard to find some sort of quiet and hear the call when the loud noise of pressure, comparison, fear and self-doubt consume us.
It can also be hard to define purpose because in reality, it’s a multi-faceted concept that involves so many different aspects of our lives. We can find purpose in many things, but few things are truly purposeful. What we give our time, attention and resources to determines what we really believe is purposeful in our lives, but what “fruit” it produces, and continues to produce, will really tell us just how purposeful it actually is.
We unpacked the passage of John 15:1-17 looking at it through the lens of ‘purpose’ where Jesus is addressing His disciples. We believe He also really taught this with the Church as a whole in mind. This is the parable known as ‘The True Vine’ in which Jesus describes His relationship with God and how we too, are called to a close relationship with Him.
We put together 6 points on what Biblical purpose can look like using this teaching as a guide. We hope this helps you!
Purpose is preceded by our surrender and followed by our obedience.
The teachings of Jesus in John 15 paint a picture of purpose being something that is a byproduct of yielding to Him out of a relationship with Him. Jesus tells us that we cannot be fruitful unless we remain in Him. In order to produce fruit, we’re told that we need to go through a “pruning and purifying” which comes by the Word (John 15:3). Giving God our utmost surrender is the key to unlocking a life of purpose in Him. Obedience to allowing His will to be done in our lives is the doorway.
Purpose has Its own timeline and patience is its friend.
It’s not instant. This timeline is guaranteed to be nothing like your personal timeline. Our sense of purpose changes and evolves in different seasons. Our ultimate purpose and calling is to love God and love others. Everything else we do should be out of an overflow of that. Brick by brick with every decision we make, we lay the foundations of intentional and purposeful living but we need patience if we ever truly want to see fruit.
Purpose produces fruit.
God is more concerned about the condition of our heart than anything we do. Jesus as the True Vine tells us that God “cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit” but “prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they produce more.” We are invited to remain in Jesus because outside of Him, we as the branches become “useless” and our purpose withers (John 15:6).
Purpose serves others.
It’s not self-seeking. We are poured into so we can pour out into others. We are given gifts and talents not to hold on tightly for ourselves, but to share, inspire and gift them to those around us.
Purpose gives glory to God.
Jesus was speaking to us today when He spoke to His disciples then by saying: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:8) These words echo the reality of purpose, that our purpose is to give God glory! It’s why we were made, it’s why we exist, it’s the reason for our unique design. Your creativity, your intellect, your skills, your work, your imagination — all of it for His glory.
Purpose gives us joy!
We don’t have to strive for it. We can remain. We can rest. We dwell in His presence and find the rhythms of grace that invite us into a journey and an adventure with Him. Jesus says so Himself: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11)