Living Purposefully

    30 lives lost

Helicopter downed over Afghanistan. Lives cut short are tragic. Lives lived out but misdirected are also tragic.

Who am I?
    Matthew 16:13-19
        Identity
Some say these verses refer to a line of authority for the church, starting from Peter. What Peter had done was learn about Jesus via the revelation of God, and accept that as truth. That was the corner stone.
Peter did not come up with it himself or by human means. It came from God. That inerrant source is where we need to get our most important information.
Notice that not only did Peter identify Jesus, but Jesus also identified Peter. “You are Peter”. God knows who we are thoroughly, and can name us appropriately. If we are going to live the right purpose, we need to learn that from God, who made us.

Where am I going?
    Matthew 16:20-23
        Instruction
After praising Peter for listening to God, Jesus accuses him of listening to satan. Peter put a stumbling block in the way, by being humanly minded instead of godly minded. It does not make sense humanly for the living God to die. In God’s plan, it was a crucial thing, and had good in it. Sometimes our blessings come wrapped in some harsh circumstances. Even our death is such a thing. Don’t turn away from what God plans

What am I to do?
    Matthew 16:24-28
        Implications
Not only will Jesus go to the cross, but he says that if we are to follow him, we had better get ready to do the same. We need to lay down our version of life in favor of his.
Jesus puts all this in the context of future judgment. Imagine that you accomplished everything on your list according to your version of life, and then found out that there was another list made for you, and you missed everything on it. What good is your list at that point?


“Being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issue.”   R. Warren