COMMITMENT TO PURPOSE

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2021

Our purpose denotes and defines our usefulness in the world we live. It helps us to add value and effects to our own advantage and that of others in our sphere of influence. Losing sight of why we are here on earth or why we do what we do is dreadful. As Christians, staying true to it is the key to fulfilling our glorious destiny in Christ.

Reference: Luke 21:37-38 New Living Translation (NLT) "Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him."

According to the Gospels, the Mount of Olives is adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City and it became significant because several key events in the life of Jesus, happened in that place. For instance, Garden of Gethsemane is located on the northern slope of the Mount of Olives, and it was there that Jesus prayed on the day before His crucifixion and before an angel comforted Him. He also took His disciples there to pray. After His resurrection, from this same mountain, Jesus ascended into heaven.

Now imagine this truth: Everyday, Jesus taught at the temple, and so, early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple because they knew He would definitely materialize. Jesus didn't rely on motivation. He shaped and built up His prayer life on the Mount of Olives. Or did you ever think that He regularly went to lodge or spend the nights on the Mount of Olives drinking, sitting idle on it, and waiting for a waft of motivation? No! He prayed and prepared for the next day. No wonder Jesus' teaching ministry was out of this world. It's not because He was God in the flesh but because He spent quality time with God on the mount called Olivet.

When He encountered His own people, in His own country, and among His own kin, they were full of unbelief, and so, He couldn't perform any miracle but to heal few sick people. Mark 6:5-6 (NLT) says, "And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people." He had the power of insight into the hearts of men, which was the bedrock of His teaching ministry, and so He went about enlightening His ignorant country people, to build and strengthen their weak faith in the matters pertaining the Kingdom of God.

Beloved, you're here on earth for a purpose. When you identify with your purpose and start functioning in it, you'll normally develop a solid routine to always work towards it and achieve it, and you'll consciously locate yourself around the people helping you to achieve whatever the aim of that purpose is. For instance, the goal is not to meditate and pray once a week, preach one sermon oftentimes, or sit down for a few sessions of preparation but to prepare afresh on a regular basis. The plan is to do your tasks repeatedly. And the secret of your impact, regardless of the extent, lies in constant inspiration sourced from each quality preparation.

If you're uninspired by your purpose, its because you're not properly determined or you're at rest and nonchalant. The beauty of your purpose in life is dependent upon consistency and routine. Jesus arrived at the same time, day after day to teach at the temple, and to invest and inculcate the mindset of the Kingdom into the personalities that made the scene. Then every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives to refill and refresh His spirit through quality fellowship and this kept Him moving. Therefore, we must learn from Jesus to always be present and honour the process of our purpose even on the days we don't feel like it. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 16:3; Philippians 3:13; Galatians 6:9; Colossians 3:23; 2 Timothy 2:15.

Exuberant Declaration: I'm created anew in Christ Jesus to fulfil God's purpose on earth and I take up my responsibility on a daily basis with unwavering determination. My commitment to purpose through strategic planning helps me to stay fruitful, productive and organised, and to make things easy and simple, when they seem complicated. By the leading of God's Spirit, I take necessary actions towards fulfilling my daily tasks and being the best version of myself, as I stay true to my purpose in Christ. Hallelujah!