What is your Purpose?
John 1:22-23 (NKJV) Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
In order for anything to be used properly, you have to find out what the creator of the product intended it to be used for. I always use the example of an exercise bike because I had one in my bedroom for a short period of time. This exercise bike was meant for exercise, to burn calories and get me in shape. I used it for a while but then, it became a clothes rack. The handlebars were great to hang pants and shirts on, and the seat was great for holding shoes, but this was not the intent of its creator. The same is true for us. If you don’t know what you were created for by God, if you don’t know what your purpose in life is, you could be doing something you were never ordained to do. Did you notice in our scripture that John the Baptist knew who he was? In the verses before these, he clearly told the people who came to him with all their questions, “I am not the Christ.”
Acknowledging who you are not is a good way to find out who you are. When you find out who you are not, you will then come to know who you really are. Another way to find out who you are is by acknowledging what you are supposed to do. John said, “I am called to be a voice in the wilderness.” He also said what his voice was supposed to cry out, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” His job was to cry out and get the people ready for the Lord’s earthly ministry. John knew who he was by his assignment. Everyone, whether in full-time ministry or not, has an assignment. People in the Body of Christ seem to only talk about five-fold ministry assignments, but everyone has a ministry assignment, even if it is not behind a pulpit. You will know who you are by your assignment, by finding your place in the Body of Christ, and by understanding your place in Christ. Acknowledge that you have an assignment, a purpose, and you will be able to boldly declare, like John the Baptist, “This is who I am.” Your identity is found in Jesus Christ and in the purpose He gave you in your mother’s womb. Discover it! Declare it! Do it!