Our Purpose Today: Guest Blog by Jeff Block

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.


I've been reading Paul's letters in the Bible lately and have found the first chapter of Ephesians to be one of the most intense chapters he's ever written. I still can't get over this chapter; I've read it over and over and over again. I try to figure it out. I try to figure out what Paul is saying. And so after wrestling with it, I can only come to one conclusion: it's about PURPOSE.

There are many definitions of "purpose." Most people try to find their "purpose" in life. Ask your coworkers what their purpose is in life and you'll be surprised to hear all types of answers. I'm sure. But we are not most people. We are not the same. We have a true purpose.

The dictionary definition is: "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." I believe, using that definition, that Paul answers our reason for existing in the first chapter of Ephesians. As we dig into the text, we should desire to discover or rediscover our daily purpose. That is our goal, is it not; to be daily renewed, daily engaged "in Christ"?

There are a few things we should pull out of this chapter. The first, is to see what God's purpose is, or will is... Verse 5 and 6 says, "he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Paul used the words purpose and will together, but why? What does "to the praise of his glorious grace" mean?

In verse 12 and 14, Paul adds, "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory... the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Do we realize that we are to be that? We are to be the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. I'm quite humbled thinking about that. I'm severely convicted at the thought of that. But with that conviction comes one thing--HOPE. We have to hold onto hope, which is Christ Jesus.

What is our purpose today? Let's refresh our memories. Let us be one thing--the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. But how? You ask. You can start by knowing your hope, remembering your purpose, and by allowing God to manifest himself in your life. You can spend all your energy, all your capable power in bringing Christ to life in your "mortal flesh." And as I'm writing these words, I am thinking of my own day, it's not easy; it never is. Our hope, our PURPOSE, our Life is all because of Jesus Christ...

It's time to manifest him today.