WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 25, 2025
TOPIC: WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?
BY T. O. BANSO
“But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent’” (Luke 4:43 New King James Version).
What is your purpose in life? Do you know it? Do others know it? Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (New King James Version). My focus in this scripture is on the word “purpose.” The Greek word translated purpose in this scripture is prosthesis, meaning: (1) the setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view, (2) a purpose (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).
What is your life set forth to achieve? What is your life exposing to God and others to see? When people look at your life, what dominant thing do they see? The dominant or primary thing God sees and what people see, which is a summary of your life, is your purpose in life. As defined by a dictionary, purpose is the “reason for existence.” Divine purpose answers the questions: Why am I here? What am I supposed to live for? What am I living for?
After the Lord encountered Saul (Paul) on the way to Damascus, Paul asked the question: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” The Lord told him: “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6b New King James Version). Thereafter, the Lord told Ananias Paul’s divine purpose: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16 New King James Version).
In other words, what the Lord told Ananias would be Paul’s reason for existence. But before this time, Paul had lived for a different purpose. He was living contrary to his divine purpose as a persecutor of the church he was supposed to be part of. He was opposing what he was supposed to be advancing. Satan perverted his purpose. He wasted his energy, intellect, and other resources pursuing the wrong purpose.
Hear Paul: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:12-13 New King James Version).
Somebody may currently be like Paul, persecuting the church, attacking what he is supposed to be supporting. Another person could have money, fame, and material things, but he is dissatisfied with his life. Someone could be successful by human standards, but he is displeased with his life because he is not living to fulfil God’s purpose. Because of some people’s ignorance of God’s purpose for their lives, they may have been mismanaging the resources God has blessed them with. Someone will abuse his life because he is not living for a divine purpose. Some have ended their lives prematurely because of this. But God’s help is available. Mercy is available.
We see an excellent pursuit of divine purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ. He understood His purpose for coming to the earth and pursued it to the end. When His disciples told Him that everyone was looking for Him, He replied, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38 New King James Version). Jesus knew and pursued His purpose to the end. Luke 4:43 says a similar thing: “But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent’” (Luke 4:43 New King James Version).
Jesus’ major priority was the preaching of the gospel, reaching the unreached, not being tied down by those who wanted to satisfy their curiosity or those looking for signs and wonders. He said in 1 John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (New King James Version).
Jesus was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He died on the cross to fulfil this purpose because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus would never have been able to save His people from their sins without shedding His blood on the cross.
His death was not an accident. He was born for this purpose. “At that time some Pharisees said to him, ‘Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!’” (Luke 13:31-33 New Living Translation). Note the phrase “I will accomplish my purpose.”
He said in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (New Living Translation). The word “purpose” appears twice in this scripture: the thief’s purpose and Jesus’ purpose. Jesus knew His purpose.
Some people take making money as their purpose in life, and, therefore, do anything to get it. But the more some people pursue money, the more it runs away from them! Some get money through ungodly means, but what happens to them? They discover that making money does not give them fulfilment. More money does not mean more joy. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10 New King James Version).
Not loving money does not mean a child of God will live in poverty. The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Those who pursue God’s purpose for their lives see Him supply the resources, including money, required to fulfil their purpose.
Don’t make becoming rich by all means your purpose in life. Psalm 119:36 says, “Help me to prefer obedience to making money!” (Living Bible). Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (New Living Translation).
What is your purpose in life? Man is capable of many purposes, but that doesn’t mean they are all from God. God has a purpose for your life; there’s something He wants to use your life for. There is a reason for your existence. God created you for a purpose. He made you for Himself, for His purpose (Proverbs 16:4; Revelation 4:11).
God made you for a purpose, and He’s always working everything together towards the realisation of that purpose. Your upbringing, the training and discipline you’ve acquired through formal and informal education, the experiences you’ve gone through in life, your abilities and talents, your failures and successes, etc., are all being worked together to achieve His purpose in your life. Indeed, you may not like some of these things. Some of them may not be positive.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, ”‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (New Living Translation). You must seek God’s help to know your purpose and live for it. Life is more than money, fame, sex, pleasure, power, etc. Many live for this and die unfulfilled. The first thing to do is to give your life to Jesus and submit yourself to discipleship. As you study the Word of God, pray, and serve in His Kingdom, God will begin to speak to you and guide you on His purpose and direction for your life.
Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (New Living Translation).
After you are born again and the process of renewing of mind begins, your values will continue to change. You will begin to cultivate Bible-based values and get rid of worldly values. Your perspectives on life will change. You will begin to review your life. You may become uncomfortable with or displeased with the direction of your life, and embrace the new direction God is impressing on your heart. Your only priority is to please God, not all the worldly goals.
Man can pursue different purposes, but the pursuit of divine purpose is the only wise way to live. What is your purpose in life? You don’t have all the time in the world. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 New King James Version). Don’t waste time. Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Contemporary English VersionNew Living Translation).
What is your purpose in life? Discover it, pursue it, and fulfil it. Don’t waste time. “Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 Making good use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16 Bible in Basic English).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your heart to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to discover, pursue, and fulfil my divine purpose in life. I will not waste my energy, intellect, and other resources to pursue the wrong purpose. Father, deliver all those who are pursuing the wrong purpose in life. Help them to discover, pursue, and fulfil their divine purpose.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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