God’s purpose is fulfilled over generations
The Lord spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and promised them increase of descendants and that they would become a great nation. While each of those patriarchs had their own long waiting season, it took centuries for God to fulfill all his promises to them. Ultimately the true fulfillment of God’s promises came through His son Jesus who was from the line of David, the lineage of Judah, and the son of Jacob (Israel).
God’s purposes are much more profound: they are deeper than we can understand or figure out. We must guard ourselves and not read too much into God’s promise or try to lean on our own understanding to see how it is going to look like.
God’s promises know no bounds of time or generations. Some of those purposes are going to only get partially fulfilled in our generation, and they will continue in the next generation. The more we take a long view of God’s promises, the more immune we are from discouragement, disillusionment, and disappointments. It also protects us from taking matters into our hands and trying to make something happen before time. For Abraham, Ishmael was a child of his carnality, not of the promise.
His Kingdom not our purpose should be the focus
We’re here to enjoy our relationship with the Lord and walk with him. If we become promise driven or purpose driven, we are in danger of falling into selfish ambition! As the scripture tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) God’s promises and purpose are “all these things”. God will add them and develop them in our lives. Our job is not to seek them, but instead to seek God and His kingdom.
God’s purposes are multi-dimensional
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16
As we love God, love people, and serve in His kingdom, our lives unfold before our own eyes. We find ourselves connected to the body of Christ, and in time we grow to function and flourish. The fulfillment of our purpose is connected to others fulfilling their purpose as well. We are not islands to ourselves. We can’t function independently and fulfill God’s plan on our own. Just as a body needs each part to function and support the other members, we as the body of Christ need each other. Regardless of our purpose, position, gifting, or calling, if we are not connected properly to the body of Christ, we can’t be fully effective in our purpose!
Our Purpose is fulfilled as we support others in their purpose
We need others to encourage us and supply us with what we need as we do our part to do the same for others. In this process God will grow us, and like a beautiful rose bud that opens up, we start seeing the color and the fragrance of our lives and we can marvel at what God has done. At the same, we contribute to the body of Christ fulfilling His purpose on the earth and God is pleased!!
God knows His purpose for us, but that doesn’t necessarily mean He plans to share it with us entirely. Let’s lay aside our ideas of God’s purpose for our lives today and just worship Him in the beauty of His holiness! We are accepted in the beloved already! As we walk closely with Him, He will guide us in our journey and allow us to reach His destination for us. Praise God!