You need a clear sense of purpose

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Live long, live well”

Our Bible verse for today: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You need a clear purpose”

I have a friend who is a successful businessman. He’s in his mid-seventies and he still leads his company. He has no intention of stopping any time soon because he loves the work and he uses his business as a platform for ministry. It provides an opportunity for him to interact with many people, and his profits are also a source of funds for charitable purposes. He keeps himself healthy and fit, and he also lives a balanced life that includes family and friends, rest and recreation, hobbies and ministry.

My friend has a clear purpose in life that gets him out of bed in the morning, keeps him focused throughout the day, and keeps him moving into the future. As Dan Buettner and his team discovered in their research for National Geographic regarding longevity, having a clear purpose in life is essential. Those who live long and live well all seem to have a defined purpose that keeps them going.

In his book Dan tells us, “Dr. Robert Butler and collaborators led an NIH-funded study that looked at the correlation between having a sense of purpose and longevity. His 11-year study followed highly functioning people between the ages of 65 and 92 and found that individuals who expressed a clear goal in life – something to get up for in the morning, something that made a difference – lived longer and were sharper than those who did not.”

Dan and his team found this to be true across the spectrum of Blue Zone populations. “Okinawans call it “Ikigai”, Nicoyans call it “Plan de vida”, in both cultures the phrase essentially translates to “why I get up in the morning”. The strong sense of purpose possessed by older Okinawans may act as a buffer against stress and help reduce their chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and stroke.”

In Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that God has a purpose and a plan for each of us. It includes “good works” that He has planned for us to do, and for which He has prepared us. That’s true through all the seasons of life and it’s essential for each of us to have identified that purpose and then to actively pursue it each day. Having a clear sense of purpose in life is so important that we will continue thinking about it tomorrow.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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