"What's Our Purpose?"

  If you were asked, "What is the Lord's intended purpose of His church?", how would you answer that? Have you ever thought about your real purpose as part of Him, His body? Do you have any insight as to what it might be?

  When we turn our attention to the Lord's teaching on purpose we find two very distinct things: (1) We are to be to the praise of the glory of His grace (Eph. 1:6). (2) Help others find His saving grace so they too can be to the praise of the glory of His grace. These two items basically surround the purpose the body of Christ Jesus.

  When we look at being to the praise of the glory of His grace, we find within that lives lived that bring glory and honor to His name. They are lives of holiness as He is holy. They are lives that when we are seen, Jesus is seen in us. Everything we do, every act we do, each word that passes our lips are to be to the praise of the glory of His grace. Paul said it this way: "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (I Cor. 11:1) What about you?

  We need to help others see the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Let me give you a quick thought that needs to be pondered. Over the years we have used Matt. 28:18-20 as the great commission, as our great commission. Who was the Lord commissioning? The church or His apostles? How many in the church are going into all the world literally? What does this mean? First, Jesus was commissioning His apostles as they would be the instruments to go into all the world for a twofold reason: (1) To fulfill the promise of the impending destruction of Jerusalem in Matt. 24:9-14. (2) The apostles would complete this going into all the world in the first century (Col. 1:23). Yes, by the writing of the book of Colossians (62 A.D.) the apostles had proclaimed to gospel in all creation under heaven.

  Where do we as Christ's body fit today in outreach? Paul tells the church at Colossae here is their (our) part. Be devoted to prayer (Col. 4:2-3). We need to be praying for open doors and for those who are capable of teaching. We need to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward those outside of Jesus and make the most of an opportunity presented to us (Col. 4:5). If you can't teach, get them to someone who can. Sometimes you are the only source of contact with certain people separated from God. Look for opportunities to help them to Jesus while watching how you live and conduct your life. Finally, watch your tongue (Col. 4:6)! Watch what words come out make certain that when you say something, its a proper response of words.

  Remember, souls are at stake. The souls in our homes as well as our families, our neighbors and others in this world of sin and death. They need Jesus or they will be eternally lost! We need to glorify the Lord with our praise and walk. That's the Lord's intended purpose for His people while living on this earth!