Chase Purpose... | Dana Wrinkle

A couple of years ago, as I was watching one of my sons play soccer, it became increasingly obvious the boys did not understand the purpose of the game. At one point, a teammate was in possession of the ball with nothing between him and the goal. He proceeded to pass the ball to a teammate behind him surrounded by defenders instead of pursuing the goal himself. Needless to say, we lost the game.

Afterwards, I approached my son and his teammate. I asked them to tell me the purpose of the game. With a look of confidence and a whiff of smugness, they looked at each other, then me, and said “to have fun”. I replied…”No it isn’t”. The purpose of the game is to kick the ball in between the goal posts more times than the opposing team is able to kick the ball in between their goal posts.

This left quite an impression on me. I continued to deliberate the “lie” I had somehow come to excuse and tolerate in our lives. The lie that the most important part is to have fun. It seems innocent. Innocuous.

But in the end, chasing pleasure over purpose is dangerous.

Soccer can be a noble pursuit. When we use sports to teach our children perseverance, determination, strategy, working together to achieve a common goal, putting the needs of the team over personal desires, stamina, anticipation, gracefully accepting victories and defeat etc. it becomes a noteworthy pursuit. Noteworthy because developing these characteristics will help us as we live out our God-given purpose.

We should pursue opportunities which develop our character and skills in such a way we will be able to discern, pursue and fulfill our God-given destinies. And our God-given destines are to advance the Kingdom of God.

We will need to have stamina if we are to pursue our God-given purpose. We will need determination, selflessness and humility. We will need apply strategy…to be shrewd as a snake and as innocent as a dove. (Matt. 10:16) We will need to value others more than ourselves. (Phil. 2:3) We will need to humbly work with others, graciously accepting both victory and defeat.

God keeps saying…

Chase purpose.

…number your days, redeem the time.

I’m convinced the best way to fulfill my God-given purpose; my God-given destiny, is to Learn it. Love it. Live it…the Word of God.

The Bible says One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much...(Luke 16:10; ESV). God continues to teach me I must obey Him in the small before He will trust me with the big. If I will learn to say yes to Him when no one is looking and continue to say yes when I don’t see any fruit, I’m starting to become trustworthy. And if I can say yes to Him when it seems hard, crazy or embarrassing, He has something He can work with. And when I learn to yes simply because I love Him, I’m finally starting to get it.

We need to learn what His Word says. So we can do what His Word says. So our lives will live out what His Word says.

It will start small. God might ask you to take a meal to a sick neighbor. Then you realize the meal to your neighbor was actually God demonstrating His love and faithfulness. Before you know it, God has softened your heart and opened your eyes to a hungry child. You decide to feed the child. Then the family. Then you decide you need a better system for meeting the needs of the child and the family. You start soliciting the help of friends and neighbors. Then, you realize the community is involved and you have started your very own “Backpack Beginnings”. All because, one day you decided to live out the Word of God. For I was hungry and you fed me…I was sick and you looked after me. (Matthew 25:34-36)

God speaks our language. Maybe your “Backpack Beginnings” will look more like loving the child down the street or fostering or sponsoring a child in Africa or going on a mission trip. I don’t know. But I do know, God speaks to the desires of our hearts. He will use our passions and our abilities and stretch them by His Spirit, grace and strength. He will take our mustard seed of faith and move mountains if we will say yes to Him. If we will Learn it. Love it. Live it…the Word of God.

Jesus promises…“whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39) When we pursue loving God and others it might seem like we are losing our lives. It is true. We are potentially losing time, energy, money, pleasure and worldly accolades. But what we are finding is life. The abundant life…rest for our souls. Deep-seated satisfaction only found through an intimate walk with Him on the most soul-satisfying adventures of our lives. We will be participants in God using our broken, sinful and messy lives to accomplish His will. He’ll use the ordinary to do the extraordinary.

All because one day we decided to Learn it. Love it. Live it…the Word of God.

Hope you’ll join me on my quest to Learn it. Love it. Live it…the Word of God.

xoxo

Dana