“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” (2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV)
The sovereignty of God is on display in this Scripture (throughout the entire Bible really). The book of 2 timothy opens with the encouragement to not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and to understand that we were called to this life by God’s choosing. It is a privilege. God chose us before time began and gave purpose to our life even before we were born into the earth. There was no work or deed required of us in order to be chosen. We were not even aware of who God was when He chose us to be members of His family and citizens in His Kingdom. Yet, for His purpose and through His grace, we were saved and called to a life that is to be lived in Christ Jesus.
God was meticulous [very careful and detailed] in how He designed each one of us. We are all made or created in His image (Genesis 1:27 NKJV), and He didn’t change His method because of the fall in the Garden of Eden. Yet we each have unique and specific attributes that are in alignment with God’s plans for us. We see in Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) that ‘we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’ He is well aware of every day of our lives (Psalm 139:16) and has even recorded all of our days in His book. So, when we talk about discovering our purpose and actually fulfilling it, we must seek to understand how we have individually been designed by God and how we are to live corporately to help fulfill His overall plan. This is where our true purpose lie. We see it show up in our personal lives, our careers, in our service to others, and in the gifts and talents we possess and develop. And we understand more of who we are when we come into deeper relationship with God and with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References: 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:10; Acts 17:26; Psalm 139:14, 16: Genesis 1:27
Reflective Journal Prompts
Take this time to reflect and journal using the following prompt questions. Use this time for introspection and communion with God. Feel free to leave a comment on the post but use your own journal to go deeper and to capture what you hear the Holy Spirit saying to you regarding what was shared in this post. Maybe write out a prayer of thanks and gratitude to God for how He has designed you and the purpose He has given to your life.
Q: Do you recognize the unique design that God has made you?
Q: As Daughter of the Most High God, how has He specifically designed you to carry out His purpose through your life?
Q: When you look back over your life, what patterns or events (small and large) do you recognize as glimpses of your design and purpose?
Q: What has God specifically shared with you about how He has created you and what He has created you for?
