How can we align our purpose with God's will, following Jesus' example in John 12:27? Setting the Scene: Jesus Faces “This Hour” John 12:27: “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour.” • Jesus speaks just days before the cross, fully aware of the suffering ahead. • Though distressed, He keeps His focus on the Father’s predetermined plan. • He affirms that the very reason He took on flesh was to reach this climactic moment of redemption. What We Learn About Purpose • Purpose is not self-defined; it is given by the Father (John 5:30). • Purpose remains steady even when the path is painful (Hebrews 12:2). • Purpose ultimately glorifies God, not self (John 12:28). Steps to Align Our Purpose with God’s Will 1. Recognize the Authority of Scripture – God’s Word is “truth” (John 17:17) and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). – Submit plans, dreams, and agendas to what Scripture plainly teaches. 2. Seek the Father’s Pleasure, Not Escape – Jesus resisted the instinct to avoid hardship (“Father, save Me from this hour?”). – Luke 22:42: “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” – Alignment may call for endurance rather than exit. 3. Embrace the Assigned Mission – John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.” – Each believer is “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance” (Ephesians 2:10). – Receive assignments—small or large—as part of a larger redemptive plan. 4. Offer the Whole Self in Obedience – Romans 12:1: present bodies as living sacrifices. – Hebrews 10:7: “Here I am… I have come to do Your will, O God.” – Alignment deepens as obedience reaches every arena of life. 5. Cultivate the Mindset of Christ – Philippians 2:5-8: humble service, voluntary submission, cross-bearing. – Trade self-promotion for self-emptying; God elevates humble servants in His time (1 Peter 5:6). Motivations That Sustain Alignment • Love for the Father—Jesus’ devotion fueled endurance (John 14:31). • Vision of Glory—He saw beyond the cross to resurrection and exaltation (Hebrews 12:2). • Benefit to Others—His obedience secured salvation for many (Isaiah 53:11). • Promise of Reward—Faithful servants hear, “Well done” (Matthew 25:21). Practical Application Points • Start every plan with Scripture and prayerful surrender: “Father, what brings You glory?” • Evaluate opportunities by asking: Does this advance the gospel or merely my comfort? • Accept that hardship often validates, rather than negates, divine purpose. • Engage in daily acts of obedience—honesty at work, sacrificial love at home, bold witness in community. • Surround yourself with believers who remind you of the bigger picture (Hebrews 10:24-25). Living the Example Today Jesus’ words in John 12:27 show a heart resolved to honor the Father regardless of cost. When we acknowledge Scripture as absolutely true, submit personal goals to God’s revealed will, and walk in humble, persevering obedience, our lives echo His declaration: “For this purpose I have come to this hour.” |
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