Purpose

Although I love all the seasons of the year, my favorite is Fall. There are three principles I would like to share that will be a help not only as we prepare our children to succeed in this new school year, but also as we think about fulfilling God’s will in the next season of our lives whatever that is for each of us.

You can’t miss the urgency and passion with which Jesus carried out His ministry. Throughout His life on Earth, He was busy about the Father’s business. As young as a twelve-year-old He said, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

We have our choice. We may live for self and take good care of our lives (not exposing them to danger, not making sacrifices, looking out for our own interests,) and we may prosper in the world. People will commend our good sense and congratulate us on our success.

I heard someone quote an old preacher who said regarding this text, “I believe in chasing buzzards off. I don’t believe in chasing buzzards.” It seems to me that this text and the thought given by that man of God now in Heaven are especially significant to us today.

Do you ever feel that you have more responsibilities than time in which to perform them? Actually, I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t feel that way! Thankfully, God has given us a resource to help us make decisions concerning our time. It’s called wisdom!

God uses individuals to lead, but He uses the church to build. There is no doubt that God specially anoints church leadership to provide vision and direct the work.

The person who is focused on God can have joy through life’s entire journey. Let’s examine Paul’s focus to find instruction as to how we, likewise, can keep a proper focus.

It must have been a difficult task for Elijah—asking a widow woman for her last meager meal. Before this, God had provided for Elijah through the ravens and the brook Cherith, but the birds stopped coming and the brook dried up.