CMA HeartBeat February 2024 | Page 23

YOUTH MOVEMENT

YOUTH MOVEMENT

By RACHEL Larson
What ’ s Your Purpose ? you ever been asked ,

HAVE β€œ What do you want to be when you grow up ?” Why ’ d you pick what you told them ? Because it sounded cool , or it sounded fun ? Do you secretly cringe when people ask you about your future ? I used to . I didn ’ t know what I was supposed to do . And when I took steps , I was openly shamed for them .

Paul was very transparent and confident about his purpose in life . His purpose was to show that Christ is preeminent – first and foremost in everything – and the Christ-follower ’ s life should reflect that priority . In Colossians 3:17 ( NKJV ), Paul writes : β€œ And whatever you do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks to God the Father through Him .”
So , how do you know what your purpose is ? Maybe some of you think you ’ re too young to worry about it . You ’ ve still got to graduate high school and go to college , and then you can start thinking about your purpose . Some of you are at the age where you feel an immense amount of pressure to find your purpose . The truth is your purpose began before you were born ( Psalm 139:13-16 ).
To give glory to God should be the purpose of everything we do . Because we each have different passions , we get to fulfill God ’ s purpose for our lives in completely
different ways . The approval of others is not a requirement . God doesn ’ t bless the person you pretend to be , and God isn ’ t committed to your dreams . Our dreams can be influenced by unhealthy desires . God is committed to His purpose for your life .
Have you ever thought being a pastor was God ’ s favorite job ? Or have you ever thought that pastors are better than someone who does something like working in a fast-food restaurant ? A pastor has the same responsibility we do : to do everything to the glory of God and to make Him known . Pastors are gifted in a certain way , so they are pursuing that gift and opportunity in their life . If someone else is gifted as a chef , their passion is no better or worse . Envision God asking , β€œ Why ’ d you work at McDonald ’ s ?” and you reply , β€œ Because You made me good at it , and I could reflect You through it .” I used to work in an office building that required a card key to get in . My pastor couldn ’ t reach the people in my office building because he didn ’ t have access . I did . I had been given the opportunity to be in that place at that time . You go to school and have peers that your pastor doesn ’ t come in contact with . You were placed in your family for a purpose .
God doesn ’ t want us to all do the same things . Otherwise , He would have made us all the same . He wants us to do what we are
passionate about for the SAME PURPOSE . Pursue your passions as opportunities to make God known . Jesus was a carpenter , fulfilling God ’ s purpose for His life while working in the family business . He is the example we should follow . How did Jesus talk to people ? How did He treat people who were different from Him ? How did He treat people who were known for doing wrong ? Fulfilling your purpose isn ’ t about finding or choosing a destination . It ’ s choosing to live like Jesus did every day , everywhere , in every moment . Your time is now .
In Colossians 3:15 , Paul says to let the peace of God rule in your heart . He doesn ’ t want you to feel pressure when you think about your future . He wants you to feel His peace and know He is with you . He just wants to live life with you . To be in a relationship with you . When He is our focus , that ’ s when we will succeed and fulfill our purpose .
It takes time . It takes letting go of some things . It takes change . But He doesn ’ t expect you to do it alone . No longer bound by sin , you are free to live your life fulfilling your purpose . To give glory to God and make His name known . All to the glory of God !
CMA
Ben and Rachel Larson serve CMA as National Evangelist
Youth Movement .
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