Day 5

5 - JESUS LIVES WITH PURPOSE

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

What do you use duct tape for? Everything, right! Duct tape Bible covers, wallets, bracelets, prom dresses, suits, hats, sandals, purses, hammocks. Duct tape shoe repairs, furniture repairs, engine repairs. Duct tape reinforcement for boxes, shelves, suitcases. Doesn’t every home have a roll of duct tape lying around somewhere? But what was duct tape originally created for? No, it wasn’t created to seal ducts. In fact, it wasn’t even originally called duct tape. Created for the military during World War II, duck tape was army green in color and was used as a waterproof seal to keep moisture out of ammunition cases.

It makes me wonder. How many other things do we have in our homes that are being used for a purpose other than what they were originally designed for? Play-Doh was designed to be wall paper cleaner. Does anyone still have wall paper? Actually, bubble wrap was originally created to be wall paper. Coca Cola was invented as a cure for morphine addiction. The slinky toy was intended to stabilize naval equipment. Frisbees were originally pie containers. Chainsaws were designed to cut through large bones during operations. According to the father of the bride in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Windex could be used to cure just about anything.

And what about us? What were we created for? What is our purpose? Are we living for a purpose other than the one we were created for?

Jesus knew His purpose was to bring the Father glory by obeying the Father’s will and completing the the Father’s work.

“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

John 17:4

Again and again, we see Jesus being true to His purpose.

Read Mark 1:29-39.

• Write down some observations from this encounter about the purpose and priorities of Jesus.

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The simplest summary of the purpose Jesus fulfilled and the purpose Jesus invites us to fulfill is found in Matthew 28:18-20. How would you summarize the purpose Jesus outlines in the Great Commission?

We can summarize this purpose with two words.

MAKE DISCIPLES

• What impact might it have had on Jesus’ ministry if He had stayed in Capernaum in Mark 1?
• What impact might it have in our lives if we don’t live in alignment with the purpose we were created for?
• What are the greatest threats to you living according to the purpose for which God created you?

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Reflect on King Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes:

“So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”

Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

Apart From Him…

• Write out a prayer expressing your desire to find your meaning, significance and satisfaction in God’s purposes and plans for your life…

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Walking As Jesus…

• Commit Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, to memory. Write it down on a note card and place it on your bathroom mirror as a daily reminder during this 40 day journey in disciple-making.

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• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: