Christian Living

---

Men have often asked the questioned; why are we here? And there are various considerations, but not one universal answer in given nor can there be.

God made man in his own [Spiritual image] each with a unique DNA. Just as it is today, our thumb print is used to identify us. Each one of us have a God-given purpose whether we recognise it or not. It can only be seen through our Spiritual eyes and those eyes are only activated when we are ready to fulfil His purpose. ‘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 (NKJV).

This piece of writing will look briefly at the God-given purposes of 3 main Characters in the Bible, the Christian universal model left for us to follow, and I will share how I recognised my God-given purpose.

KING DAVID ~ a man after God’s Heart
As a shepherd boy David was a loner; he had older brothers, but they served in King Saul’s army, whereas David was able to spent quiet time with Jehovah God singing praises, while tending his father’s sheep. However, humble as he was and strong in faith toward God, he was fearless toward man and beast. He fearlessly killed a Bear and a Lion with his bare hands to save his father’s sheep (1 Sam 17v34). David trusted God with his life. In Psalms 27v1 (NIV) David declares ‘The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?’

David’s biggest battle before he became King was to conquer the Giant Goliath. When Goliath confronted him with insults, David fearlessly challenged him. He spoke with complete confidence “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel’ I Sam 17v45-46 (NKJV). David fought and killed Goliath. This was I believe the beginnings of his God-given purpose.

King David had many accomplishments, he captured Jerusalem, reunited the nation and controlled an empire’ and when he fell out of favour with God, he prayed fervently with a repentant humble heart (Psalm 51v17). God knew the condition of David’s heart before he appointed him. Samuel told King Saul because of his disobedience to God (1 Sam15v3-9) that he would be taken off the throne ‘.........the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people.......’1 Sam 13v14 (NIV). King David fulfilled his purpose and left the book of Psalms as an encouragement and fulfilment of God’s love and promises. When he was dying he strongly counselled his son Solomon his successor, “I am about to die, like all men must. But you are growing stronger and becoming a man. Now, carefully obey all the commands of the LORD your God. Carefully obey all His laws, commands, decisions, and agreements. [You must] obey everything that is written in the Law of Moses; if you do this, you will be successful at whatever you do and wherever you go’ 1 Kings 2v2-3 (ERV). The scripture shows with heartfelt love for Jehovah God, he gave his son sound instructions to follow to gain success as the next King of Israel. With those instructions King Solomon was able to serve Israel for 40 years in Peace.

JESUS CHRIST ~ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
Jesus Christ purpose was well documented and broadcast before he was born. The scripture at Numbers 24v17 says ‘I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not nearby. A star comes from Jacob; a scepter [symbol of royal authority] arises from Israel’. This was confirmed by the three Wise men who too were expecting a ‘Kingly Star’. Such were their expectation that they went to consult King Herod thinking that he knew about it. ‘Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him’ Matt 2v1-2 (ASV).

I have no doubt that as soon as Jesus could understand Mary and Joseph told Him who He was and what His purpose was for mankind. At 12 years old He boldly without consent of his parents, stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Jewish Festival [Passover], while his parents travelled back to Nazareth. When they realised he was not with them they returned to Jerusalem. ‘After three days they found him in the temple courts sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions'. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2 v46-49 (NIV). Although his parents knew that He was God’s Son born to fulfil His purpose, they could not understand that even as a child He was already committed to His purpose. The scriptures tell us that Jesus stayed obedient to his parents from then onward.

When God was ready to present His son Jesus Christ to the world it was by public declaration of water baptism. John the Baptist was the fore-runner for Jesus Christ. At John 1v29 when Jesus presented himself to be baptised, John announced ‘.............Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ God took pleasure in confirming His son’s identity ‘And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” Matt 3v16-17 (ESV).

Jesus was perfect and was called the second Adam, as the first Adam made perfect faltered with human passion. Paul explains at ‘1 Corinthians 15:45-47 (NIV) why there was a significant difference. “The first man Adam became a living being, the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven’. God’s Love brought Jesus Christ His son to this earth to fulfil an assignment that could only be executed by Him. Jesus constantly emphasized that He came to give life and to fulfil His Father’s will. Jesus while speaking to the disciples showed the strong connection of God’s Love for us through Him. At John 15 v1-4 (NIV) ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you........’ Jesus came to introduce His Father to the world, showing that through Him the Love of His Father is handed down to us, but much more so that we can be a part of His Eternal Kingdom. Verses 7-8 states ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jesus showed no importance to himself. He equated everything He did was for the Love of His Father. Verse 10 continues His quest to please and honour His God-given Purpose; He states, ‘If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love’. Jesus fulfillment of His God-given purpose is stimulating and encouraging for us. His whole existence at the time of His commission was to teach, preach and encourage us to make the truth of the Gospel our own and to show love to each other to gain Eternal Life.

My final Character from the Bible is the Apostle Paul the man Jesus appointed to lead the early Christian congregation.


CONTINUE TO PART 2

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR