Acts 13:36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed
The life of David was summarised in this verse that he served God’s purpose in his own generation before he left the world. David was nobody among his siblings, yet God made him a replacement for Saul. David led the people of Israel according to God\’s instructions and kept the commands of the Lord. When he fell, he humbled himself before God and kept his heart open to God\’s love. He was an example of a man with a heart of service and humility. As for David, God comes first; other things follow. God rewarded David by giving him a lasting kingdom in Israel and through his lineage, the Messiah was born.
The Search for a Man After God\’s Heart
Romans 8:28-29 says: So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born, and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.
From this scripture, we can see that our love for God is a major attraction to the center of God’s purpose. David was a man that loved God.
Let’s see how God testified about David even when nobody knew him.
Acts 13:22-After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
God is always looking for a man or woman after his heart to use for His purpose. What does it mean that David was a man after God’s heart? It means that He was a man who always pursued God’s heart, i.e., searched the mind of God. He desired to do what pleases God and loved to obey God. Now, let us look at our life, can God count on us as men and women after His heart?
The Purpose of the Service
Our main responsibility is to serve His purpose. We are made in His image to beautify our world. He made the world and gave us all the beautiful things in the world. He wants us to be fruitful and multiply on this earth (Gen1: 28-31) for His pleasure. He wants us to love our neighbour and live in peace with all men. God\’s purpose to us as believers is clearly stated when Jesus was leaving the earth in Matthew 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus wants us to continue the work of reconciliation and bring many souls to God. We need to unite humanity with God by making disciples of people who would come to the knowledge of God. In Mark 16:15, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The Platform for the Service
We can do this! We have been equipped with all that is required- salvation, Holy Spirit, wisdom, intellect, money, and other essential stuff. We can do it at home, in our workplace/marketplace, online, offline and in all platforms provided to us. All kind gestures and goodwill we do to humanity is a service to God. However, sometimes God may commit specific assignments to us and that we must discover.
The Discovery of God\’s Purpose
To serve God\’s purpose, we must first discover it, accept it and live our lives to fulfill it. Here are some things that can help us discover and accept God\’s purpose:
1. Seek after God’s kingdom
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2. Express our love to God– it is true that God loves the world that he gave his begotten Son to the world. It takes a man that loves God to fulfill the purpose of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
So, without our love for God, we cannot serve His Purpose for our generation.
3. Study God\’s word
Joshua 1: 8- Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
The Delivery of God\’s Purpose
The following tips(P-U-R-P-O-S-E) will help us to serve God\’s purpose:
1. Present yourself to the service of God as a living sacrifice
Romans 12:1 present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service
2. Unite with the body of Christ
Romans 12: 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
3. Reach out to help people with your talents and gifts
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
4. Pray consistently
Ephesians 6:18 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
5. Obey God’s instructions
Jeremiah 7:23- But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.
6. Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit
James 4: 7-Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
7. Expect rewards only from God and not man
Hebrews 11:6-And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Let us conclude by reading and meditating on Colossians 3:23-24
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
I pray that the Lord will help us to serve God\’s purpose in our generation and we will not miss our rewards in Jesus name.
