joy in His purpose...

I heard it today... a new perspective on Romans 8:28... at least for me...

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

In an interview... the founder of Revival Outside the Walls... attributed joy... to pursuing God's purpose... with your life...

This man found joy... only after he realized he was to live for God's purpose... not his... even though he spent years working in the church...

God's purpose... disciple-making... 

And Jesus came and said to them,

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."

Matthew 28:18-19 ESV

The one purpose we are called to fulfill with our life... is making disciples... by sharing our faith... blessing others with the good news... that is also for them...

Living life for God's one purpose...

makes ALL things that He allows in your life...

an opportunity to share faith...

reveal His power... glorify Him...

and bring others to Christ...

hence... it's... ALL... good...

This man on the radio... filled with enthusiasm and joy...

was not a man with a trouble-free story...

With joy he spoke about God's call on his life...

the call he heard in an ICU bed...

a bed in which the doctors said he would die...

This man challenges Believers in severe straits...

walking in the shadow of death...

to rejoice at the adventure...

to not waste a moment of the trial...

but use it for God's purpose...

drawing others to Him... through a witness of...

trust...

faith...

joy...

Then... on another program...

I heard stories of present day martyrs...

One... a Chinese preacher... with a ministry on the border of North Korea...

feeding those who fled... crossed the river into China...

not only food... but good news...

This man would not help them stay in China...

he encouraged these new Believers... charged them...

to go back to the darkness... with the Light they now carried...

and share it with their family... friends... neighbors...

Just this last weekend...

the Chinese preacher making disciples...

sending them out into darkness...

was brutally murdered...

The remarks of the representative from The Voice of the Martyrs...

celebrated the welcome... this faithful preacher of Light...

surely received in heaven... Well done... good and faithful servant...

Joy... in being used for His purpose... do you have it...?

Can you filter all life's ups and downs through this charge...?

Have you embraced the purpose of your life...? the one to share faith...? make disciples...? wherever and in whatever circumstances He brings into your life...?

Joy in His purpose...

I just really never made the connection...

But if all things work for good...

in fulfilling His purpose...

shouldn't it bring... unimaginable... joy...?