{"id":745,"date":"2021-04-18T14:38:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-18T21:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=745"},"modified":"2021-04-18T14:38:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-18T21:38:52","slug":"help-me-see-that-i-have-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=745","title":{"rendered":"“Help Me See… that I Have Purpose”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(John 21:15-25)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen they had finished eating\u2026\u201d (v.15). <\/em><\/strong>Did John catch your attention with these words? Remember who the \u201cthey\u201d is made up of – it includes Jesus! The dead guy was eating a meal with the disciples! They had been out on the Sea of Galilee fishing, not catching anything, and then Jesus told them to throw the net on the other side of the boat. When they did, the haul of fish was too great that one boat alone could not drag it to shore! Then, once they were on the shore together, they ate. Jesus, the dead guy, was eating. The one who had taken his last breath on the cross, whose lifeless corpse had been removed from the cross and placed in a tomb, was there. Eating. Doing something that only living people do. John tells us this was the third time Jesus had appeared to the disciples. Were the disciples still in awe of it at all? Had the magnitude of the Resurrection begun to sink in yet\u2026 or had it already lost its luster?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been two weeks already since we celebrated Easter Sunday. Does the magnitude of the Resurrection still sink in for you\u2026 or has it already lost its luster? Another question: is the Resurrection simply an historical event that we celebrate, or is it an eternity-altering, life-changing shift in how we view ourselves and our reason for being in this world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we view it makes a difference, as we seem to be lacking purpose. It seems like people are more content than ever to just ooze through life, like molasses slowly dripping off a spoon. There\u2019s no drive. There\u2019s no motivation. There\u2019s no yearning to make a difference. In fact, indifference is maybe the best description of it. People don\u2019t care. We just exist. We wake up. Eat. Do nothing for a whole day. Go back to sleep. What are we here for? What is our purpose? Today\u2019s message is needed, because Jesus provides us with the purpose many are lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u201cpurpose\u201d needs clarification. We can use it to mean two things: what? and why? Both are essential when it comes to Jesus helping us see our purpose. It is one thing for a person to know the \u201cwhat?\u201d of his purpose, but if there is no \u201cwhy?\u201d to his purpose, no drive, no determination, no motivation, then it\u2019s possible that nothing changes. A child knows the purpose (what?) of school – to learn and receive an education. But parents and teachers alike realize that the child\/student also needs purpose (why?) – motivation, encouragement, drive, to carry that follow through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Jesus gives it both to us – the \u201cwhat?\u201d and the \u201cwhy?\u201d of our purpose. And there is nothing more noble than the purpose Jesus provides. Do you hear that? There is nothing more noble, no greater achievement than the purpose Jesus assigns to us as his disciples. We\u2019ll focus on the \u201cwhat?\u201d of our purpose in just a moment as we see Jesus dialogue with Peter. But Jesus\u2019 resurrection also provides us with the \u201cwhy?\u201d  After all, what is more inspiring than his resurrection from the dead? What could be more impactful than the dead end of death being overcome and stripped of the chokehold it would otherwise have on anyone\u2019s purpose? For if the end result of anything we accomplish in this life would simply be the meaninglessness of death, why bother? Why care? Why get up in the morning? What would be the point if death had the final say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it doesn\u2019t. There is more. So much more than the here and now, and Jesus\u2019 resurrection helps us see it, helps us see our purpose, and propels us to carry it out with enthusiasm and vigor because we know something that far too many don\u2019t: there\u2019s more. There\u2019s a life waiting for us that by comparison would make the best days of this life seem like a nightmare. Sure, had Jesus remained in the tomb and stayed and decayed, we would have reason to be deflated and defeated, like a boxer getting pummeled who is encouraged to just stay down and give up. But that\u2019s not how it ended. The finality of death was flung off by Jesus\u2019 resurrection. The whole picture of rising up is one of intention and purpose! His death by itself would have been the end, but his Resurrection was just the beginning. It means purpose, purpose for Christ which means purpose for you and me, and by the very same act he propels us to carry out our purpose, meaning that our work makes a real difference! So let us explore and embrace his purpose for us, and let the Resurrection help us see what a profound impact the risen Jesus can make in and through each and every one of us as we feed, care, and follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus told Peter to feed, and he told him twice. The first time he told him to feed lambs, which could mean either little ones, children, or also those who are new to the faith. The second time Jesus told Peter to feed, he used a different word, the word \u201csheep,\u201d which would include everyone. So his purpose was to feed everyone, little ones, grown ups, and those new to the faith – all of the sheep of God\u2019s flock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to be a pet expert to realize there is one key requirement for having a pet that matters more than anything else. This key requirement pretty much applies across the board, regardless of the type of pet – dog, cat, bird, hamster, lizard, fish, snake, etc. Whatever type of pet you have, it needs to be fed. You might occasionally miss a meal here or there, but if you go too long without feeding your pet, you won\u2019t have a pet for very long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know if there is a simpler analogy in the whole Bible than the concept of needing to be fed to live. Everyone understands that basic truth. Eat and live. Don\u2019t eat and starve. Yet as simple as it might be to comprehend, it may be one of the most difficult to make stick spiritually. Go to church every week. Participate in Bible study. Read your Bible. Have devotions. “But why? Why do I need to do those things?\u201d Because you\u2019ll die if you don\u2019t. Because you want to live. Because you need to be fed to stay alive. And if you don\u2019t take Jesus\u2019 command to feed and be fed seriously, thinking these things don\u2019t really matter or make much of a difference, please see me after the service and I will sadly provide a list of names – many of them names we know – of those who have either died or are dying because they are not being fed. \u201cFeed my sheep\u201d (v.17). <\/em><\/strong>That is your purpose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And care for them. In addition to feeding his sheep, Jesus gave to Peter the command, \u201cTake care of my sheep\u201d (v.16). <\/em><\/strong>Feeding sheep is essential to keeping them alive, but it\u2019s not the only thing that is necessary. They also need to be cared for. Whether you\u2019re caring for a newborn or an aging parent, you know that making sure they are fed is not the only thing they need. They aren\u2019t able to carry out basic functions on their own. They aren\u2019t able to know what pills or medicine they need. They need care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of us do – especially in a world that is sending conflicting messages about what it means to care. Consider the messages we\u2019re used to hearing: \u201cDistance yourself. Isolate yourself. Stay away from others. Don\u2019t say anything negative about others living their truth. Mind your own business.\u201d While it isn\u2019t overtly stated, how can anyone ignore that the overall message being received in all of this is \u201cworry about yourself,\u201d and is that really any different than, \u201cstop caring about others?\u201d One of our members just recently commented on how nice it is to come to church and frequently be asked by one person or another, \u201cHow are you doing?\u201d Think about where else we can expect to receive such a simple, yet impactful, expression of concern in our world today? Working remotely? From neighbors we don\u2019t know? From distance learning on a screen? But the church is called to care. That is our purpose. That is why you are here – to care for each other. Why does the Acts 2 church have to be the standard for what care should look like among believers in the church? Why can\u2019t we raise the standard even higher? What is stopping us from caring about each other in such a radical way that our neighborhood and community couldn\u2019t help but be attracted to how deeply we care for each other? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus gives us purpose. He calls us to feed, to care, and also to follow. He told Peter in verse 19 and again in verse 22: \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>  Not casually. Not occasionally glancing up. Not the way we find ourselves trying to follow two or more screens at the same time when we watch a movie, with the television on, with our phone in hand and another screen on our lap. That\u2019s not focus. That\u2019s not following. That\u2019s being distracted. But it\u2019s also perhaps a better illustration of how many of us follow Jesus. We glance up on occasion from the other stuff in life when we get a break, but we\u2019re not really engaged. We\u2019re not really focused. Jesus is there, and we keep tabs on him and check on him. But we don\u2019t follow him the way he calls us to, we don\u2019t follow him the way the winter storm driver clings to the wheel, white-knuckled, when the road itself is hardly visible and she\u2019s locked in to the red taillights on the car in front of her. THAT\u2019s the kind of following Jesus calls us to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Why should you follow, feed, and care for each other? We need to revisit the \u201cwhy?\u201d of our purpose. Why should you carry out this purpose to which Jesus has called you? Because of what he did for you in the first place to even enable you to not only have a purpose, but to live. Being reminded of our purpose this morning is a double-edged sword, isn\u2019t it? It convicts and condemns each of us for how indifferent we\u2019ve been to his purpose for us, and how infrequently we concern ourselves with carrying it out, and how inadequate even our good days really are. So for all of that, Jesus died. For all of that, more importantly, Jesus rose. He did not need to die and rise for himself, remember. He did not need to depart the holy majesty of heaven for himself. He died and rose so that your purpose would mean something. So that as you feed and care and follow, it would actually matter. For eternity and for this life. The past two Sundays Jesus\u2019 resurrection has helped us overcome negatives – fears and doubts, but too often we fail to see how the Resurrection amplifies our lives, the positives it brings to us. It isn\u2019t just about what he\u2019s freed us from – Satan, sin, and death itself – but also what he has set us free for <\/em>– purpose! You are not only on this planet for a purpose, but you are here in this place, in this church, around these people God has brought together, for a purpose, for each other. Love your brothers! Love your sisters. And show it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you make that connection that Jesus did for Peter? Three times he asked Peter if he loved him. Each time Peter responded with a resounding \u201cYes!\u201d Each time Jesus then gave Peter the opportunity not just to speak his love, but to put it into action. Feed. Care. Follow. Jesus loves you fiercely. Do you love him? Really? Then feed, care, follow. You have purpose. Carry it out purposefully with the strength his Resurrection provides. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(John 21:15-25) \u201cWhen they had finished eating\u2026\u201d (v.15). Did John catch your attention with these words? Remember who the \u201cthey\u201d is made up of – it includes Jesus! The dead guy was eating a meal with the disciples! They had been out on the Sea of Galilee fishing, not catching anything, and then Jesus told… Continue reading “Help Me See… that I Have Purpose”<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[118,65],"tags":[119,5,124,123,120,36,108],"class_list":["post-745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-help-me-see","category-sermons","tag-easter","tag-jesus","tag-meaning","tag-purpose","tag-resurrection","tag-sermon","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p842FN-c1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=745"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":746,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745\/revisions\/746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}