COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

STEPPING UP FROM BEING PURPOSE DRIVEN

Rick Warren has done the body of Christ and the world a great service in making us aware of the fact that we have been created with a purpose. Paul put it this way:

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

God has specific a purpose for each individual life. He said to Jeremiah:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. - Jeremiah 1:5

Each of us is formed, given life, called, set apart and anointed for a specific purpose. Jesus knew His purpose. He said:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. - Luke 4: 18-19

Jesus functioned within His appointed purpose. In the closing moments before His arrest, He prayed:

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. - John 17:4

It is heartbreaking that so many people live and die without discovering their purpose and destiny. Surely, we should be about our purpose. I am totally committed to discovering and fulfilling my purpose in this life. But, I’m suggesting that we should not be purpose driven - that is, driven by our purpose.

It is possible for people who are purpose driven to bypass a very important principle. It is not only what we do, but how we do it, that matters. We can seemingly accomplish great exploits and still miss the higher calling.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - I Corinthians 13:1-2

The faith that comes by hearing, the faith that the just live by, the faith that pleases God, works by love. Yes, faith works by love. Therefore, the completing of our work on earth - the fulfilling of our purpose - must be accomplished by love.

We are to be love driven!

No one can fulfill his purpose alone. We need one another, because our individual purposes are intertwined in the grand purpose that God has for His church. When we attempt to get others involved in our purpose, helping us to reach our goals, they need to see our love for them in our eyes - no vision-obscuring phone poles, not even slivers.

Agendas come in all sizes. When we are perceived as valuing our agenda over and above our relationships with individual people, they often feel used - even abused. Love is more concerned with helping the other person achieve his agenda than getting them to help with our agendas.

Our histories are strewn with failed relationships. Many of them were broken because our ambition to please God exceeded our commitment to do so in His higher way, in love. God is love. Our work in Him will have His character all over it. We need His brand - love - on what we do in His Name.

This challenge will slow us down for awhile until we get into the flow of His Spirit. The anointing that breaks the yoke is clearly marked (branded) with His love. People must see the love of God - shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit - before and above seeing our agenda!

The fruit of the Spirit is love! May people see how we love one another. May they know how much we want them to succeed. May they see the branding of the Lord - even on our pursuit of His purpose and our destiny.

The angel of the Lord spoke to Zechariah about foundations and plumb lines. An important revelation regarding the symbols in his vision was given to him:

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. - Zechariah 4:6

Zechariah was not to be powered by his purpose, but rather by the Holy Spirit. We are not to operate in our own strength. Jesus promises us that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us (Acts 1:8).

We are known by our fruit. Love is the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s be empowered sons, led by the Holy Spirit, and bearing the fruit thereof.

I believe that God, who is love, is love-driven. He so loved the world. I believe that Jesus was love-driven in His earthly ministry. He laid down His life.

Let’s be love driven!