Devotional for the Week 17th April 2005

This Week's Devotional | 2004 Devotionals | 2005 Devotionals

Devotional For the Week 17th April 2005

WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? — The Purpose Driven Life – Part 1

LIFE’S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS

A guy named Dr. Hugh Moorhead, who is the Chairman at the Department of Philosophy at the Northeastern University, once wrote to 250 well-known philosophers, scientists, writers and intellectuals of the world and asked them, “What is the purpose of Life?” And then he published all of their responses in a book.

I read the book, and it was quite discouraging and depressing. Some of these people offered their best guesses. Some admitted they made up a purpose in life. Some admitted they didn’t have any idea as to what the purpose of life was and if Dr. Moorhead knew, would be please to let them know. Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist said, “I don’t know the meaning, the purpose of life, but it looks as if something were meant by it.” Isaac Asimov wrote, “As far as I can see, there is no purpose.” Joseph Taylor, the author of “I Have No Answers To The Meaning of Life And I No Longer Want to Search For Any.”

You know, those are tragic statements, folks, because the life without purpose isn’t a life worth living.

Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions:

1) The question of existence – why am I alive?

2) the question of significance – does my life matter? and

3) the question of intention – what is my purpose?

3 BASIC QUESTIONS

1. QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE?

“Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow,to end my life in disgrace?” Jeremiah 20:18 (TEV)

“The Lord has made everything for His own purpose.” Proverbs 16:4a (GW)

“Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” Ephesians 1:4 (Msg)

GOD: I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED BY GOD.

2. QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE: DOES MY LIFE MATTER?

“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all.” Isaiah 49:4a (NLT)

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

“You... scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” Psalm 139:16 (LB)

"His plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally." Psalm 33:11 (GN)

GOD: I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER.

“When this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (TEV)

“Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." Proverbs 9:6 (Msg)

3. QUESTION OF INTENTION: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?

“Why did you create us? For nothing?” Psalm 89:47 (NCV)

"Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." Proverbs 9:10b (LB)

GOD: I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD.

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Msg)

“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)

“It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” Acts 10:35 (Msg)

Prayer

Let’s bow our heads – You know God had a purpose - He wants you to know Him and He wants you to know His purposes for you. So talk to Him. You don’t have to use any fancy words.

“Dear God, I realize that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. But because you made me, you must have a purpose for me. I admit that I focused on my plans for my life, not yours. But I want to know your purposes for me, so I commit the next 40 days of my life to learning about it. Thank you that you made me so you could love me. Thank you that you cared for me even when I didn’t know you. Thank you that I was made to last forever. I want a life filled with meaning. I want to start by getting to know you better. So as best as I understand, I ask you, Jesus Christ, to come into my life and help me to understand your purposes for me. I want to take the first step today. In your name I pray, Amen.”

Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, Calif.

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This Week's Devotional \| 2004 Devotionals \| 2005 Devotionals Devotional For the Week 17th April 2005 *WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? — The Purpose Driven Life – Part 1* LIFE’S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS A guy named Dr. Hugh Moorhead, who is the Chairman at the Department of Philosophy at the Northeastern University, once wrote to 250 well-known philosophers, scientists, writers and intellectuals of the world and asked them, “What is the purpose of Life?” And then he published all of their responses in a book. I read the book, and it was quite discouraging and depressing. Some of these people offered their best guesses. Some admitted they made up a purpose in life. Some admitted they didn’t have any idea as to what the purpose of life was and if Dr. Moorhead knew, would be please to let them know. Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist said, “I don’t know the meaning, the purpose of life, but it looks as if something were meant by it.” Isaac Asimov wrote, “As far as I can see, there is no purpose.” Joseph Taylor, the author of “I Have No Answers To The Meaning of Life And I No Longer Want to Search For Any.” You know, those are tragic statements, folks, because the life without purpose isn’t a life worth living. Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions: 1) The question of existence – why am I alive? 2) the question of significance – does my life matter? and 3) the question of intention – what is my purpose? 3 BASIC QUESTIONS 1. QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE? “Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow,to end my life in disgrace?” Jeremiah 20:18 (TEV) “The Lord has made everything for His own purpose.” Proverbs 16:4a (GW) “Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” Ephesians 1:4 (Msg) GOD: I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED BY GOD. 2. QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE: DOES MY LIFE MATTER? “My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all.” Isaiah 49:4a (NLT) "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isaiah 44:2 (CEV) “You... scheduled each day of my life* before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” Psalm 139:16 (LB)* "His plans endure forever; his purposes last* eternally." Psalm 33:11 (GN)* GOD: I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER. “When this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (TEV) “Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." Proverbs 9:6 (Msg) 3. QUESTION OF INTENTION: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? “Why did you create us? For nothing?” Psalm 89:47 (NCV) "Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." Proverbs 9:10b (LB) GOD: I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD. “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Msg) “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11 (Msg) “It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” Acts 10:35 (Msg) Prayer Let’s bow our heads – You know God had a purpose - He wants you to know Him and He wants you to know His purposes for you. So talk to Him. You don’t have to use any fancy words. “Dear God, I realize that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. But because you made me, you must have a purpose for me. I admit that I focused on my plans for my life, not yours. But I want to know your purposes for me, so I commit the next 40 days of my life to learning about it. Thank you that you made me so you could love me. Thank you that you cared for me even when I didn’t know you. Thank you that I was made to last forever. I want a life filled with meaning. I want to start by getting to know you better. So as best as I understand, I ask you, Jesus Christ, to come into my life and help me to understand your purposes for me. I want to take the first step today. In your name I pray, Amen.” Pastor *Rick Warren*, Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, Calif.
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