Embracing Your Divine Mission for a Meaningful Life
Summary
Understanding and fulfilling your life mission is crucial to living a meaningful life. God has uniquely shaped each of us for a specific purpose, a mission that was planned even before we were born. This mission is not about our careers or hobbies but about our contribution to the world and the legacy we leave behind. Without this understanding, life can feel aimless, and we may not fully utilize the talents God has given us. The Bible, particularly Ephesians 2:10, emphasizes that we are created for good works, which is our life mission. Jesus also highlighted that just as He was given a mission by the Father, we too have a mission in this world.
The story of Jonah serves as a powerful example of the importance of embracing our life mission. Jonah initially ran from his mission due to fear and prejudice, leading to a series of negative consequences. His story teaches us that running from God leads to a downhill path, costs us dearly, and can even hurt others around us. However, when Jonah finally surrendered to God's will, miracles happened: the storm calmed, unbelievers believed, and Jonah experienced God's mercy.
Our life mission will often require us to step out in faith, challenge our comfort zones, and help others. It may scare us at first, but the alternative—running from God—only leads to more turmoil. Embracing our mission brings peace, influences others positively, and allows us to experience God's grace and mercy. As we embark on this journey, we must remember that God is patient and forgiving, always ready to guide us back to our true purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Discovering Your Life Mission: Understanding your life mission is essential for a meaningful life. It is not about your job or hobbies but your unique contribution to the world. Without this understanding, life can feel aimless, and you may not fully utilize your God-given talents. [00:51]
- The Consequences of Running from God: Jonah's story illustrates that running from God leads to a downhill path, costs us dearly, and can hurt others. Embracing God's mission for us, despite initial fear, leads to peace and fulfillment. [22:22]
- Faith and Action: Your life mission will require a step of faith, challenging your comfort zones and prejudices. It may scare you at first, but stepping out in faith is necessary to fulfill your God-given purpose. [12:45]
- Impact on Others: Your mission will somehow help others, even if not directly. God cares about people, especially those in pain or experiencing injustice. Your mission is part of God's plan to address these issues. [16:12]
- Miracles of Surrender: When you surrender to God's will, miracles happen. The storms in your life calm down, unbelievers around you may come to faith, and you experience God's mercy and grace. [42:28]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Understanding Manifestation
- [00:33] - God's Purpose for Your Life
- [01:10] - The Importance of Life Mission
- [01:56] - Biblical Foundation of Life Mission
- [02:32] - Jesus' Mission and Ours
- [03:06] - Living Beyond Self
- [03:39] - Preparing for the Final Exam
- [04:28] - God's Manifestation of Your Mission
- [05:02] - Building on the Right Foundation
- [06:16] - The Test of Your Life's Work
- [08:01] - Learning from Jonah
- [10:34] - Lessons from Jonah's Life Mission
- [12:45] - Faith and Life Mission
- [16:12] - Helping Others Through Your Mission
- [19:25] - Facing Fear in Your Mission
- [22:22] - Consequences of Running from God
- [42:28] - Miracles of Surrender
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:10
- Jonah 1:1-17
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-14
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:10, what are we created for, and how does this relate to the concept of a life mission? [01:56]
2. In the story of Jonah, what were the initial consequences Jonah faced when he ran from God's mission? [22:54]
3. How does 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 describe the importance of building on the right foundation, and what does this imply about our life mission? [04:28]
4. What specific actions did the sailors take during the storm, and how did Jonah's actions impact them? [31:53]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Jonah illustrate the consequences of running from God's mission, and what does this teach about the nature of God's patience and forgiveness? [19:13]
2. What does it mean to build with values that last, as described in 1 Corinthians 3:10-14, and how can this be applied to one's life mission? [05:02]
3. In what ways does stepping out in faith challenge our comfort zones, and why is this necessary for fulfilling our God-given purpose? [12:45]
4. How does the calming of the storm after Jonah's surrender demonstrate the impact of aligning with God's will? [42:28]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt aimless in life. How might understanding your life mission have changed that experience? [00:51]
2. Jonah's story shows that running from God can hurt others. Can you identify a situation where your actions might have negatively impacted those around you? How can you address this? [29:39]
3. What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? What specific steps can you take to respond to this call? [12:45]
4. Consider a "storm" you are currently facing. How might surrendering to God's will bring peace to this situation? [42:28]
5. Identify a person or group in your life who might benefit from your life mission. How can you begin to make a positive impact on them this week? [16:12]
6. Jonah's mission challenged his prejudices. Is there a personal bias or comfort zone you need to confront to fulfill your mission? [15:51]
7. Reflect on the concept of building with lasting values. What changes can you make in your daily life to ensure you are building on the right foundation? [05:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Discovering Your Unique Life Mission
Understanding your life mission is essential for a meaningful life. It is not about your job or hobbies but your unique contribution to the world. Without this understanding, life can feel aimless, and you may not fully utilize your God-given talents. [00:51]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What unique talents or passions do you feel God has given you, and how can you begin to use them to contribute to the world around you today?
Day 2: The Cost of Running from God
Jonah's story illustrates that running from God leads to a downhill path, costs us dearly, and can hurt others. Embracing God's mission for us, despite initial fear, leads to peace and fulfillment. [22:22]
"But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord." (Jonah 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are running from God's call? What steps can you take today to turn back towards His presence and purpose?
Day 3: Stepping Out in Faith
Your life mission will require a step of faith, challenging your comfort zones and prejudices. It may scare you at first, but stepping out in faith is necessary to fulfill your God-given purpose. [12:45]
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area where God is calling you to step out in faith, and how can you take a tangible step towards that today?
Day 4: Helping Others Through Your Mission
Your mission will somehow help others, even if not directly. God cares about people, especially those in pain or experiencing injustice. Your mission is part of God's plan to address these issues. [16:12]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of support or encouragement, and how can you use your unique gifts to help them today?
Day 5: Experiencing Miracles Through Surrender
When you surrender to God's will, miracles happen. The storms in your life calm down, unbelievers around you may come to faith, and you experience God's mercy and grace. [42:28]
"And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender to God's will, and what would it look like to trust Him fully in that area today?
Quotes
You were not put on this earth to waste time, to use resources and to live for yourself. Oh no no, God made you for a far bigger purpose than you. You have a greater purpose and plan to live for and this is called your life mission. Before you were even born, before God even thought you up, he already planned what he wanted you to do with your life. [00:00:33]
The Bible says in Ephesians 2:10, "God made each of us what we are." He shaped you unique, nobody else is like you. "God made each of us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made each of us to do good works." That good works is called your life mission. God made you, he created you, he put you on this planet to do good works which God planned in advance, planned in advance before you were born to live our lives doing. [00:01:51]
Your life mission is what God intends for you to do with your life. It's not your job, it's not your career, it's not your hobby. It's your contribution to the world. It's your legacy that lasts beyond you. And your life mission as I said is what gives your life meaning, without it you just drift. [00:02:52]
The most important thing you need to do with your life is to discover, develop and complete your life mission. Now this is so important that I'm gonna spend the entire next month helping you clarify this in your life. It's that important. Nothing matters more. Do you know your life mission? Do you know what unique contribution God wants you to make with your life? [00:03:58]
Your mission in life, when you understand God's mission for your life, it's what gives your life meaning. If you don't know your life mission, then your life lacks the fullest meaning. It also means you're not using all of the talents you've been given. Studies have shown that the average human being has between six and 700 different talents. [00:01:03]
My life's mission will come from God's word. My life mission comes from God's word. I don't get it from watching TV, I don't get it from reading books. I don't get it from magazines, I don't get it from friends. You can make up a mission but it'll be a fake mission, it'll be a pretend mission because it wasn't from God. [00:10:44]
My life mission will require a step of faith. That's the second thing you need to know about your life mission. It's gonna require a step of faith. You're gonna have to step out and do something that maybe seems uncomfortable. It stretches you, it stretches your faith. It challenges your prejudices. [00:12:48]
My life mission will somehow help others. My life mission, your life mission is gonna somehow help other people. Now your life mission may not be directly involved with people, but somehow it's gonna help them. For instance, if you developed a new medicine or drug, maybe you're workin' in a lab, you don't see many people but it helps a lot of people. [00:16:19]
Running from my mission causes bad consequences. This is a story of good and bad. At the end the last three things I'm gonna share with you are actually really good things. They're actually miracles that can happen when you run toward God. But when you run away from God, there are four negative consequences. [00:22:08]
The longer I run from God, the worse it gets. The longer I put off accepting my mission, the worse it's gonna get. Some of you feel this past year has been really rough. Well as your pastor who loves you, your spiritual coach, I wanna say I beg you to make a full surrender of your life to God, that's the only way it's all gonna work out all right. [00:35:52]
When I do what God wants, things will calm down. I want you to look at what happens next. Jonah 1:14-15 says this. Finally, like last resort, the sailors cried out to Jonah's God. They've been cryin' out to all these false Gods and nothing's happenin', so they finally cry out to Jonah's God. [00:42:36]
Miracle number three, when I accept my mission, God shows me mercy. He doesn't scold me, he doesn't spank me, I've been runnin' the wrong way for a long time, but all of a sudden I'm gonna go this is stupid. I'm payin' the price and God's opposin' me, I'm goin' downhill, I'm hurtin' other people. This is dumb. [00:46:14]
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