Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, July 3, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I know the meaning of life. I’m not even joking. And, no, it’s not 42. Jesus calls it out of the Hebrew Scriptures when quizzed by the people around him. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Or, to simplify: Love and service.
People often struggle to figure out what God’s purpose is for them in the world. What, specifically, they should be doing on a day to day basis. I’m not discounting this—each person’s journey is a particular thing. But I am saying that love and service isn’t how you find your purpose. It actually is your purpose. If every single thing you do comes from that focus—love for God, neighbor, and self—then you have life and have it abundantly. It really is that simple.
Of course, simple isn’t the same thing as easy. Even refocusing your life on love and service, you may need to struggle to see how your unique gifts and qualities can best do this. But you don’t need to have figured it out completely in order to live a life with purpose. It’s not someplace we arrive perfectly and once and for all. The journey itself can be as meaningful as the destination. After all, God’s walking with you, so enjoy the stroll.
Do I have an idea of what God’s purpose is for my life? Can I find meaning in my day to day living even if I don’t?
