God's Purpose For Us

Ephesians 5:1-21

The Purpose of God

I was asked recently the question we all ask ourselves at one time or another

- Why am I here?

- What purpose is there for me here?

- Now the person who asked me this is a Christian

- And after confirming the importance of his decision to accept Christ as Savior

- I knew he really wanted to know

- What does God want from me?

- What is His purpose for my life?

- That is a big question

- One most of us struggle with.

- I think that sometimes the struggle is due to our blindness

- To what God and salvation are all about

- We also assume becoming a Christian

- Is one thing among many

- It makes sense, but that decision doesn’t require much in return

- We pretty much go on with life

- As if all Christ and God expect is our worship on Sundays

- And that we try to be morally good the rest of the time

- Be a good person and come to church

- Everything will be alright

- The question I had for this person

- In response to his question was

- “Do you really want to know?”

- You see, once you know something that God wants you to know

- You become responsible for it

- He expects you to act on the illumination He gives you

So do you really want to know what God’s purpose is for you?

- It is really very simple

- Yet it is very radical

- It is also very costly

- Our salvation cost God His Son

- Jesus, His life

- Our finding His purpose for us

- Will cost us dearly

- Yet it will result in the most satisfying and rewarding life we could ask for

- If we actually act on it

If I were a heavenly salesman knocking on your door

- And offered you God’s purpose for your life

- How much would you be willing to pay for it?

- Or would you turn me away?

- How much are you willing to give to know all God has for you?

- What is God’s purpose for you worth to you?

Well, last chance to get up and leave

- Shortly, it will be too late

- You will be responsible for the truth God has for us today

- Concerning this matter

- Turn with me to Ephesians 5:1

Vs 1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Vs 8b-10 “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Vs 15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

God’s purpose can be found in these verses

- The verses in between these flesh out God’s purpose

- With specific acts and attitudes to avoid and to have

- We are first told be imitators of God as beloved children

- Or as the New English Bible says it, “as God’s dear children, try to be like Him.”

- Paul said elsewhere to imitate him

- We are called to imitate Christ

- But God?

- What a staggering concept

- Paul invites us to imitate God

- A child will show himself to be a true child

- By wanting to grow up to be like his father

- Likewise, God’s precious children should be eager to copy Him

- As He enables us to do so

- Jesus told us the same thing

Now Paul goes on to tell us exactly how we are to imitate God

- God is love

- And a life that is like His

- Will be a life of love

- If love is the essence of God’s nature

- It is also an essential part of a Christian’s character

- We are not talking about soft, gushy love here

- We are talking about hard, rational love

- Not a love of emotions, but of reality

- The model of love is Christ Himself

- It is because He laid down His life for us

- That we are to love others to the point of sacrifice

- He offered Himself as a sacrifice and offering

- Not in an emotional passion

- But in simple, rational obedience

- A choice He made to be obedient because He loves the Father and the Father loves Him