The Purpose-Driven Dilemma

What are the important things in your life? Perhaps your list will include,

1. My relationship with Jesus …

2. My relationship with my spouse …

3. My relationship with my children …

4. My church my job … my career … etc.

All of these things are important and worthy of our attention. All of these things have a place in our hearts and lives. There is nothing wrong with any of these things. Now, how would you prioritize these things? What is the most important thing in your life? What has first place?

Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." --Matt 6:33 NASB. I really believe the heart of Jesus' message here is for each of us to have a heart hunger for Jesus. In other words we, as Christians, should have a deep desire and passion to know Him more intimately and thus serves Him more eagerly. I am convinced this will come, only as the result; of our spending quality time with Him continually.

My heart is breaking today because of what I sense in the churches of our land. Many churches seem to have lost their passion for reaching the world for Christ. Too often we are more concerned with form than function. We choose style over substance. We have replaced passion with programs. Here is what I mean. Far too many of our churches are

striving for success, but are using the wrong measurement for determining this "success." The hot button for our churches today is the label of "Purpose Driven." While it is very important that each church functions under the singular purpose of God, it is vital that we KNOW what this purpose really is.

The church has one primary purpose under the Lordship of Christ. I say "under the Lordship of Christ" because a church is simply a body of believers, joined together by the power of God, through our relationship with Him. A relationship with God is impossible apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A group of religious people, gathered together for work, worship, or witness is nothing more than a civic organization if Christ is not Lord of each person in that group!

The one primary purpose of the evangelical Christian church is to present the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Far too many of our churches are striving to find ways of getting people into the church building while failing to look for ways of getting these same people into the Kingdom of God. There is a difference! Sadly, we spend more time building our kingdoms rather than THE KINGDOM.

There is no greater purpose for the church than evangelism. Primarily, evangelism is not a program - it is personal. Evangelism begins with a genuine understanding of what God has done for us. While we were sinners, God saved us! He reached down to us and pulled us out of the mire of sin and separation. He set us free! He forgave us! He saved us! We were lost and He saved us. Once we really grasp this truth, we will be eager to see others come into this same relationship with Christ. Let me encourage you today to ask God to give you a passion for Him and eyes to see lost people. I know this for certain. When I begin to see people as lost, my heart breaks; I want to share the love of God with them, and I want to see them get saved.

Beloved, it is my prayer that God will continue to do a good work in you and that you will begin to look for opportunities to share your faith with others.