DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – OUR PURPOSE IS TO KNOW JESUS.

"More people fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent." - Billy Sunday.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. – Eph 4:14-16. TNIV

Christians without goals are a little like Alice in the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat .- Source Unknown.

Jesus gave specific gifts to the body, for the purpose of equipping the saints that they may serve. These gifts are to function until the body is built up, and we come to a mature faith. The most important thing that can happen to us is to come to the knowledge of Christ. To know Him, and then to make Him known, is our greatest purpose. Our purpose is not just to know about Him but to really know Him. He came that we might have life, and have it to the fullest. Here are some of the ways to fulfill this purpose…

We are no longer to be children.
Spiritually we must grow up… Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere human beings? - 1 Cor. 3:1-3.

We are to move on in our understanding… In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! - Heb 5:12.

We must train ourselves… But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. - Heb 5:14.

Let’s be like John Wesley who said… I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field.

We are to speak the truth in love.
We must give up shameful secrets... - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, - Titus 2-11-12. We should always be lovingly truthful.

We are to grow up to Jesus.
Because, He is the head… And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. - Col 1:18.

Because, He is our Purpose… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14. I love what the Message says… I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Give Me to Hold Me Firmly to My Trust
My God, who has committed to my care
Thy ransomed one
Lest I be scattered here and there
and she be gone

Give me to hold me firmly to my trust
Let all that would distract me be as dust.
'Thy life for hers' -- O solemn, urgent word --
Lest I forget,
My sense of values waver, or be blurred,
Or overset
By other things, take me and purge and bend
Each power and purpose to one single end.

Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee
O Lord, my God
Give clearness, lest some by-way tangle me.
Where Christ hath trod
There would I tred, nor ever turn aside,
Lest she be missing for whom Christ hath died.
- Amy Carmichael .

To know Jesus is our purpose. To be like Him, and to know Him intimately, is the very purpose of every Christian. “Christian” means “like Christ” or perhaps “little Christ.” Others need to see in us a likeness to Jesus, that will attract them to Him, as we grow up in Him.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make knowing Jesus, the main purpose in my life. I ask this in His wonderful Name. Amen

Be encouraged!
GBYAY