Living Your Purpose
If you are around California Baptist University long enough, you will hear the phrase “live your purpose” quite often.
CBU’s slogan inspires satisfaction and confidence. It reminds us that we have a purpose in our lives — one that God created for us.
Since I am in my college phase right now, it is more difficult to look at my life holistically and understand the purpose God has created me for. When I was in high school looking for colleges, I would ask God, “Where is it that you want me to go?” I wanted to make sure that I went to the college that God intended for me to go, because surely that had to aid my purpose in life. Well, it is a good thing I did come to CBU. Not only has it been a great experience and inspiring academic atmosphere, but it has taught me a lot about the purpose for my life.
Dr. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences and dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Nathan Lewis, professor of psychology and director of the graduate program in counseling ministry, have instilled in me the way to interpret God’s will for His people. Sometimes these two professors like to modify the school’s slogan to say “live His purpose,” because we as Christians can misunderstand what the phrase means at times.
God created us in order to live holy and righteous lives before Him, loving others and following His law so that we may have satisfaction and joy in our lives. Sometimes Christians take the “destiny” approach to Christianity and believe that Christians are “destined” to do such and such thing. Then if we do not do that thing we missed out on our purpose. I am glad that it does not exactly work that way. God does bring opportunities and people into our lives, and these things can change our lives in tremendous ways. But God may or may not tell us in plain words “Take the Christian doctrine class this semester” or “Room with Veronica this year.” Living our purpose is so much more than that.
If we narrowed our purpose to such minute things, we would miss out on the purpose that God has really called us to. God has a great calling for all Christians. His purpose is to make disciples of all nations and be a part of a universal church devoted to making His name great. Christians can do this in so many ways that it is really an adventure.
Coming to CBU and being a part of the community here is a way that you can make disciples and be a part of His church. But you can live your (His) purpose, wherever and everywhere you go. Friends, live your purpose!
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