A Higher Purpose

 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

-- Exodus 9:16

Duct tape is the product of 1,000 uses that can mend broken automobile fan belts, cracked windshields and split vinyl siding. It’s also great for removing lint from clothing. And if you believe the article on Seeker.com, it’s come through during emergencies to stabilize a cross-country skier’s damaged knee, prevent frostbite, and even save the Apollo 13 astronauts. But ironically — for all its versatility — duct tape can fail when used for its original intended purpose: wrapping heating and air-conditioning ductwork! 

People, like duct tape, are also designed with an intended purpose or calling.

When it comes to Christ-followers, the Bible reveals that God has given them certain gifts, talents and resources for advancing his kingdom on Earth. For example, vocalists and musicians might use their gifts in church to lead worship on Sunday mornings. Other believers have talents related to behind-the-scenes applications, like bookkeepers and office managers, who help the church make the most of its finances. Meanwhile, these same gifts, talents and resources have applications in the secular world, which can also help identify their owner’s purpose or calling.

Have you found yours?

If not, your search should begin with regular prayer, Bible study and discernment — the ongoing functions of living, thinking and acting to distinguish between right and wrong, and the essential from the secondary. Meanwhile, your daily circumstances, trials and crises also blend into the mix. But it’s your service that often reveals the answer. That’s because we’re all called to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth. And it’s no coincidence that Christ-followers who complete a mission trip or other acts of service say that they gained more from the experience than those they sought to help. 

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served,” Jesus reminds us. “He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."  

As Christ-followers, let’s turn our faith into action — and see what God reveals to us about our calling or purpose — by accepting his invitation to help brighten a dark world that’s so much in need of guidance, truth and love.

Maybe that’s the only other thing duct tape can’t do.