Purpose Announced

Introduction

If I were to ask you what your purpose in life is, what answer would you give? If I were to ask you who you are, what answer would you give? These are two of the most important questions in life. The answers may change during different seasons of life. Our identity can be measured and understood based on occupation, relationships, or some internal foundation. Our purpose may be understood to grow out of our identity and we measure success by how often we meet our understanding of our purpose.

There are some who see their identity occupationally: I am a teacher, a minister, a counselor. Some see their identity relationally: I am a husband, father, grandfather, friend.

There are some who see their purpose in carrying out their identity. The more consistently they keep their identity intact the more they fulfill their purpose. Trying to find the balance between occupation and relationships is at times a juggling masterpiece but when that balance is found then there is harmony.

But what happens when the identity goes away. What happens if you lose the job or retire or the relationship is severed in some way? Then who are you and what is your purpose? The safety net of answering those questions based on what one does and the relationships that one has changes and with each change one must invest the time and energy to find similar but different identity and purpose.

If our identity and purpose is found in God, then the changes of life do not shake the fundamental realities that define us. If are identity is based in what God says about us then occupation and relationships do not change who we are but enhance the joy of who we are. Our work doesn’t define us. God does. But our work suddenly takes on deeper and richer meaning because as God’s son or daughter we find our joy in him. Work becomes an opportunity to revel in the gifts he has given. Not merely to earn a paycheck but to celebrate the creativity and strength that God gives.

Our purpose in occupation and relationship is defined by our relationship with God. We know that every relationship and every job we do is a reflection of God’s beauty. Our occupation and relationships are gifts. And we engage both understanding that meaning is not found in the outcome of a paycheck or mere satisfaction in the relationship but being able to work for God and to share with God in the beauty of relationship.

Our studies throughout this year have focused on Daniel who had to learn how his identity was not found in a name that changed in captivity but in a relationship with God who would use him in captivity. In Ephesians Paul uses the metaphors of nation and building to reveal that we have a new allegiance to the one who is wise enough to bring all different kinds of people together to reveal that wisdom and power. Today we begin a look at Acts where the identity as God’s people has a distinct purpose in this world. Spoiler alert: The beginning of God’s people as seen in Acts is merely the beginning of the story of all of God’s people through 2000 years and until Christ returns. We know who we are and in Acts we discover what our purpose is.

The Text

Acts 1:1-11 gives very little sermonic material. This isn’t a great narrative story like David and Goliath. It isn’t a wisdom section. It isn’t like a psalm in nature. It is historical. And unless you are Paul Goddard, history telling isn’t always interesting. In fact, in these few verses, it is very easy to summarize the story: Jesus in his resurrected state tells the disciples to remain in Jerusalem. His forty days after his resurrection is over and he is taken back up to be with God. The disciples are mesmerized but are told that Jesus will come back one day in the same way he left.

What Luke does allow us to know is what is on the minds of the disciples — Israel’s restoration to greatness. This is the question that burns in their hearts. You died. You were raised. You are leaving. You tell us power is coming. Is this it? Is this Israel’s time? Not an open ended question like “What’s next?” Or “What do you want us to do once you are gone?” John tells us in his gospel that he spent time explaining the Comforter and what his work will be. But the disciples still do not understand who they are and what their purpose is. For them, purpose and identity are still clearly tied to Israel. And why not? They identify as Jewish. They have been immersed in Jewish thought. They are completely and totally Jewish. They aren’t thinking globally and they have consistently thought that Jesus’ kingdom was earthly.

Our own questions for God grow out of who we think we are and what our purpose is. What question would you have asked? What question do you ask when you don’t know what the future holds? What question do you ask when you can’t possibly know the next 10 days ahead? Don’t we in some way ask the same kind of question — Is this it? Is this all there is? Are good things coming? Will this power you speak of bring victory? I don’t feel any different. I don’t know any more. How does all of this affect me? When I get to heaven, I have a bunch of questions for God. As if God is on trial.

Purpose

Jesus’ answer to the question is to not just put things in the right order but to tell the disciples what their purpose is. It is one of the clearest statements to the disciples about what they are supposed to do and how they are to live their lives. Look at Jesus’ answer. First, there are some things that are not for you to know now. We know this is true about life. There are just some things we are not allowed to know. There are things parents don’t tell children. There are things that employers don’t tell employees. There are things that we just don’t know and aren’t part of our purpose. In no way would it change the disciples’ purpose to know what God was planning to do with Israel. In the same way, our purpose is not dependent upon knowing everything God is going to do and is doing.

Second, Jesus is going to send the Holy Spirit so that the disciples will have the power to fulfill their purpose. In other words, God didn’t leave the disciples to fulfill their purpose based on their own strength and resolve. The Holy Spirit would provide power for action and strength in weakness. Paul assured us of that truth in Ephesians 1 when he wrote of the power that is available to all who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. We act like God gives us a purpose and then says figure out how to do it. The truth is God gives us a purpose and he gives us a power to fulfill that purpose.

Third, the purpose for the disciples is clearly given. You will be witnesses about Jesus in Jerusalem, Samaria, and the rest of the world. Their purpose was to rehearse over and over again what they had seen Jesus do. Their purpose infused their work. Their purpose infused their relationships. Their purpose became a part of their lives and everything else bowed in importance to their purpose. Being a follower of Jesus infuses all parts of our lives. These disciples didn’t make to the rest of the earth, but those who they taught did. And we who have become followers of Christ have our purpose.

To tell the story of Jesus is our purpose. To make God look good is our purpose. That purpose infuses our jobs. No longer are jobs merely the means to bring financial security. Jobs now have a deeper meaning. We use God’s gifts to work but in working we make God look good. We speak the name that matters most to us. Our purpose infuses new meaning into our relationships. Our families are about seeing the beauty of God. Our friendships are about revealing the message of grace, mercy, and peace; to show the wisdom of God in bringing all people to the same cross to confess sin and to find forgiveness.

This is our purpose. This purpose releases us from knowing everything. This purpose allows us to reveal the power of the Spirit. This purpose means our occupations are means for the purpose to be fulfilled. This purpose means our relationships are infused with more meaning than similarities and personalities. What a blessing to know that our purpose is not affected by the condition of life or by the circumstance of life. Our purpose is found in Christ and in him every job, every relationship, every condition and every circumstance is an opportunity to reveal the goodness of God as we speak the name of Jesus.

Follow Jesus

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