The Prophet Is Called

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

⁵ “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.”

Our English word purpose derives from an old Anglo-French verb meaning “to propose.” When a man proposes marriage to a woman he says, “It is my purpose to spend my life with you and with none other.” The advantage of such a proposal, as it transitions to a life purpose, is that it eliminates a multitude of decisions that might present themselves. Anything that conflicts with one’s purpose in life is not even considered—or shouldn’t be.

When young Daniel was taken as a captive to Babylon, he purposed in his heart not to defile himself in that pagan land. So he proposed to the one in charge an alternative to the diet he was offered. He didn’t have to wonder, “What should I do?” That decision had been made before God many years before. His purpose was to live a life of purity and obedience to God.

How would you describe your purpose in life? Make your future easier by declaring a clear purpose today.

Man forgets his purpose, and thus he forgets who he is and what life means. 

~ Francis Schaeffer

Romans 10:14-15 [NKJV]

Israel Rejects the Gospel

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

When John the Baptist began his ministry: He preached (Matthew 3:1). And when Jesus followed on John’s heels, He did the same thing: He preached (Matthew 4:17). After Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers in Jerusalem did what they had been taught: They preached (Acts 4:2; 5:42). And after Stephen’s martyrdom, when the Church was driven from Jerusalem, Acts 8 is evidence of their single-minded focus on preaching (verses 4-5, 12, 35, 40). Then Paul was converted and “immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

Regardless of who, when, or where, the early followers of Jesus preached! In the early stages, John and Jesus declared or announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand. After the resurrection, preaching became more focused: proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s identity, death, burial, and resurrection for the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Why was there such a focus on preaching? Paul answered that question with another question: “And how shall they hear [and call and believe] without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

Wherever you go today, be ready to preach the Good News (2 Timothy 4:2)!

Preaching is the chariot that carries Christ up and down the world. 

~ Richard Sibbes

A funnel has a wide end and a narrow end. Those two ends can represent how different people find their life’s purpose. Some enter early in life at the narrow end, knowing exactly what they want to be or do. Others enter at the wide end and narrow their focus and activity over time. People are different and progress through life in various ways.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

A few years before he died, the Free Will Baptist evangelist John Colby was feeling the effects of poor health. He didn’t want to end his ministry, but he was sometimes too tired to continue. On Thursday, February 25, 1813, he wrote in his journal: “I preached at Esquire Green’s. The house was much crowded, and I was under the necessity of speaking louder than usual, in order that the people might hear in the different apartments. The Lord strengthened me far beyond my expectations, and as a dying man, I spake to dying creatures. Many of the dear youth wept and mourned, and I humbly trust, that day will not be soon forgotten. When I closed the meeting, I felt as though I had come about to the close of life. I retired to my chamber, and lay down where I continued till the next day.”

The next day, he got up and kept going. 

We often become tired in the service of the Lord, but not of the service of the Lord. The apostle Paul, also near death, spoke of how the Lord stood with him and strengthened him. Our Lord will do the same with us. Let’s get up and keep going—in His strength!

God’s strength can only work in weakness.

~ Andrew Murray

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slainTo receive power and riches and wisdom,And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

More than one person was raised to new life in the Bible, but not permanent new life. Their earthly bodies were reanimated (they were resuscitated) and they were probably immediately recognized by people who had known them before their death. This was not the case with Jesus and His resurrection body.

After His resurrection, the two disciples Jesus joined on the Emmaus road didn’t recognize Him. His resurrection body must have looked human to the two travelers, but somehow different. Also after His resurrection, Jesus appeared in a locked room where the disciples were gathered. In other words, He “materialized” in the room rather than opening the locked door. But there was one thing about His resurrection body that was the same: the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. Those wounds will eternally mark Him as the Lamb who was slain for us.

Worship Jesus Christ today as the Lamb slain for your eternal redemption, and prepare to recognize Him by His wounds.

The Divine glory shone more out of his wounds than out of all his life before. 

~ Robert Murray M’Cheyne