It's time to start a new series and this one will be titled What You See Is What You Get. Before we get started, however, I want to let you know that I have placed a link on my website where you can help me with my upcoming trips to Kenya and Guyana, South America. As I have been telling you since last November, I have reached a crisis point in my purpose work. I have no place else to go but to you who read and benefit from my work regularly. Pray and do what God is telling you to do. And now, let's get started by looking at a man who shows up in the Bible right after the Christmas story.
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Six weeks after Jesus was born, his parents followed the Law of their people and presented their firstborn son in the Temple to be dedicated and redeemed and for Mary to be cleansed from the whole ordeal of childbirth. We know that Jesus' parents did not have much, for they chose the poor man's offering for the procedure, which was a pair of doves or two young pigeons (see Luke 2:22-24).
SIMEON
While they were in the Temple area, a man named Simeon approached them and identified the baby Jesus as an answer from God for both Simeon and the nation of Israel:
“'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismissyour servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him" (Luke 2:29-33a).
There are many things we can focus on from this passage, but I want you to consider Simeon. God had promised him - how we don't know - that he would not die until he saw the Promised One of Israel. Many male babies had been presented during Simeon's lifetime, yet on that day, God empowered him to recognize the fulfillment of God's promise to him. He saw Jesus and knew that Jesus was the One! When Simeon saw Jesus, he basically said, "Alright, Lord. I have seen Him; now I can die." In that moment, Simeon not only saw Jesus, but he also saw the purpose of God that was to be fulfilled in and through Jesus.
In a sense, Simeon received the blessing of Jesus' purpose because he saw it. Once he saw it, he thanked the Lord for all that was going to happen because he saw all that was going to happen. He saw the blessing and he received the blessing, even though the blessing was still in its infant stages.
WHAT YOU SEE
This is true for your purpose, which God has promised that you have. There are many things that will happen to you in life, but when the right 'thing' comes along, you will recognize it for what it is - the expression of your purpose. When you see it, you will receive the joy and blessing of it right then and there. You can thank God for all that will happen because when you see it, in some sense it has already happened, for God will make sure that it does. Of course, there will be many things you will need to do to express your purpose but you can receive all the benefits of your purpose when you see it just like Simeon did when he saw Jesus.
People often ask me "How do I find purpose?" The most important step is to see it, because when you see it, you have received all the potential of what will be - just like looking at a baby. It will grow and become mature, but in that moment when you see it, all the potential and reality of your purpose is already present - and it's difficult not to be excited! I hope 2015 is a year of purpose for you and that, when it shows up as God promised it would, you will recognize it and enjoy the exhilaration of all that it represents for your life and future. Thank you and have a blessed week!
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KENYA TRIP: I depart for Kenya on February 26. Please read the latest update on the challenges of doing our work there and then give a generous contribution through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you for your assistance.
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