As Jesus prepared to go to the cross He spoke aloud to His heavenly Father, but also in front of His disciples, and said, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name’” (John 12:27-28). As Jesus prophesied His own death, He questioned His disciples by asking, “What shall I say? Save me, when My death is the very purpose that I came to accomplish?” “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). We know that Jesus accomplished this purpose by His finished work on the cross. The question that many Christians seem to struggle with is not what Jesus died for, but rather what is their purpose. Ephesians 3:8-12 gives us the answer to this mystery. “This grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” We are the church and our purpose is to receive the manifold wisdom of God so we can walk in authority, no matter what principalities and powers with which we have to deal. Jesus’ completed work on the cross gave us boldness and access so we, by faith, can confidently fulfill our purpose and destiny. We know that it is “Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21). It is up to us to receive what He has already done. To realize our purpose we must:
· Be intimate with Him.
· Seek Him through His Word.
· Pray diligently.
· Trust Him to accomplish His will in us.
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “For as a man thinks (purposes) in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
