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 remarkable product that can mend just about anything. From a broken automobile fan belt to a cracked windshield to split vinyl siding, it can do it all. Duct tape is also great for removing lint from clothing. And if you believe a few urban legends, it saved the day by stabilizing a skier’s damaged knee, and it even rescued the Apollo 13 astronauts from certain death. But 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. And when it comes to Christ-followers like you and me, the Bible reveals that God has given us certain gifts, talents, and resources for advancing his kingdom on Earth. For example, singers and musicians might use their gifts to lead Sunday morning worship. And accountants, bookkeepers, and office managers can focus their talents on helping the church operate efficiently. Likewise, those same gifts and talents 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. So, it’s no coincidence that Christ-followers who complete a mission trip or other acts of service say that they gained far 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 explains. “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 about our purpose — by accepting his invitation to help brighten a dark world that’s in dire need of guidance, truth, and love.

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