In wondering about our purpose, we explored the great mystery described in Colossians – Christ in me, the Hope of Glory. This picks up where that left off. If you’d like to read it before this one, click here and it will open in a new window. Jesus announced His ministry by quoting the Prophet Isaiah. Exploring His announcement focuses us on the purposes that emanate from His life within us. Isaiah 61:1-5 are our base text.
The Father sent Jesus to those who were crushed to their core—the broken-hearted. Jesus was to wrap them up, heal them and govern these broken ones. These are the ones who can hear. These are the ones Jesus sought.
Do I seek to find and share Christ in me with the broken?
Jesus then said He was sent to proclaim truths—proclaiming means calling out truth, accosting ‘hearers’ with reality! The first truth involved freedom for those harnessed to lies. Jesus came to call out those who could hear to come out of the lies that hold God’s
children captive. Then Jesus promised light in the darkness the lies created so that prisoners could leave. Hearing a truth without light to find the way out would be cruel. Jesus proclaims to those bound to lies, to those imprisoned, that He gives light! The hearers must seek the Light to find their way.
Is Christ in me confronting the lies of world and showing captives the way to freedom?
Often, those who hear the first messages: you don’t have to be harnessed to the lies, there is a way out, falter in fear. Jesus said it was (it is) His purpose to proclaim that 
NOW is the age of God’s favor. Fear does not need to keep anyone in darkness…but Jesus also said His purpose involves declaring a day of vengeance.
It is never the purpose of Jesus to deny the reality of God’s anger with sin. In the ‘acceptable year’ in the ‘age of favor,’ is a day of vengeance. Christ in me proclaims that as clearly as He proclaims the ‘year of favor.’
Am I faithful to the fullness of Jesus Christ’s purposes?
Proclaiming the day of vengeance is necessary and beautiful. Those whose hearts really seek and see God will mourn the devastation of sin just as God does. Christ’s purpose is to comfort those who mourn—not comfort those who are in distress because of sin. And Christ’s comfort is what transforms hearts. The comfort of Christ:
- provides mourners gleaming crowns of beauty in exchange for the ashes of repentance, for the grief of rejecting God!
- provides a richness of life to those who mourn the cost of living without God.
- wraps those who feel obscure and frail with praise for the glory of God.
Does Christ in me have opportunity to give to those who grieve over sin?
All that Jesus does is for an even more beautiful purpose. Jesus accepted the assignment of Savior so that those who received Him could be known as ‘trees of righteousness planted by God.’ He didn’t do it for His reputation…or to gather glory for Himself. Jesus never has and never will do things for that purpose.
Jesus’ driving passion—His purpose–is ensuring that God, the Father, receives the glory due Him. Christ in me seeks the same: to give and generate glory for God! Isaiah went on to say that all Christ did was so that we (those who receive Him) will be called ‘trees of righteousness planted by God.’
Jesus purposes for his followers to be strong, magnificent givers of glory to God. He lives in us for that purpose…to strengthen us and to bear fruit through us. My purpose—your purpose as a follower of Christ—is to allow Christ in me to fulfill His purpose. So that more will become ‘trees of righteousness! Together, we will give glory to God as through us He rebuilds the dried up, wasted and decayed places sin has created.
Are you ready to live Christ’s purpose?
It is the purpose you seek!
