Remember Your Purpose

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

At our school, we have agreed upon some common expectations and common language to use when we describe them to the students. One of those expectations is to “remember your purpose.”

Students are loud in the hallway? They are reminded to “remember your purpose.” Students goofing around in the cafeteria? They are told to “remember your purpose.” You get the idea.

I was using this language in my classroom last week when a group started to get off task. I said to them, “Guys, I really need you to remember your purpose today. We have a lot of work to do, and I need you to remember why you are here.”

And then I thought, “Hm. Seems like I need that reminder, too.” It’s easy for me to get side-tracked at school by focusing only on my school purpose. Yes, it is very important that I do all I can do to help my students master the state standards, that I cover the curriculum they need to be successful, that I work hard to help my students improve each day. But Paul writes in Ephesians that I have another God-given purpose: to do the good works He has prepared in advance for me to do.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16:
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I was listening to a podcast last week from pastor Tony Evans, and in it he used a light bulb as an illustration that stuck with me. He said that a light bulb that isn’t giving off light is not fulfilling the purpose for which it was created. If it’s sitting in the package, if it’s not correctly connected to the source of electricity, or if it’s not turned on, that bulb is not doing what it was meant to do.

If we are created to glorify God through our good deeds and works, then I want to remember to fulfill that purpose all day, every day. But, just like my students, I often need to be reminded of that purpose. Maybe you do, too?

Father God, thank You for creating us with a purpose! Help us to find the way to those works that You have already prepared in advance for us to do. Help us to see how You have gifted us and prepared us to do those works, and help us to obediently step out and complete those good deeds. Keep us focused and ready at all times to heed Your promptings. And thank You for the way You use others to remind and encourage us along the way! We want to be lights shining for You!