“I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 CSB
We all wonder if we have a purpose in life. When things seem crazy around us, nothing seems to be going right, it’s easy to ask the simple question: What is the purpose in all of this? I’m sure Mary thought that when she became an unwed, pregnant teenager. She had no idea her purpose was to give birth to the Savior of the world. An angel appears to her, tells her she will become pregnant and give birth to the “Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:28-33 NIV). I love her reply: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34 NIV). After the angel explains to her exactly how this will happen, Mary gives us a lesson in accepting our purpose in life with these words: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38 NIV).
Mary didn’t have an easy purpose in life. Joseph, her fiance wanted to kick her to the curb when he found out. Being pregnant ruined her reputation in the community. I’m sure friends and family turned their backs on her. Mary would have been treated as an outcast, she might as well have had leprosy. If God hadn’t sent an angel to Joseph he wouldn’t of married her. The story of her pregnancy is just a few short verses, but to Mary it was her life. It was nine months of living with people whispering about her, accusing her of ungodly things. It was nine months of being judged and outcast. People are mean, religious people even meaner, just look at the Pharisees and Sadducees in the Bible, they lived to make people feel bad. But Mary knew her purpose. She knew she was chosen by God to do something no one else in history can claim, give birth to His Son.
You and I, we’re like Mary. We have a very special purpose, one that God knows. Our purpose is one that He reveals to us. You may not know what your purpose is like Mary did, an angel may not appear to you with a specific message, but you do have a purpose. We all share one purpose together, the Great Commandment: Love God with all you got, love others as yourself (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). This decree was given by Jesus when He was asked what the most important commandment is for all of us. The Great Commandment is a starting point for finding your purpose. Whoever God places before you, you are to love them to the best of your ability. In order to love people as God intends us too, we have to get that love from Him. We have to put Him first and let Him fill us up, it is the only way we can love others. Our purpose is to love God and love others, it will take a lifetime to complete. If you want to act like you have purpose it’s easy, just love God and whoever He sends your way.
