Hey, church family! How’s everyone doing? We’re back for another message today. Whether you’ve been a Christian for years, are still exploring your faith, or even if you don’t believe at all—you are welcome here.
For those joining for the first time, welcome! And for my regulars, I see you in the chat—Keisuke, Junko, Ayumi, good morning! It’s great to have you all here.
Before we start, let me ask you something: Have you ever struggled with setting goals? Maybe every year, you tell yourself, This time, I’m going to stick to my diet. Or This year, I’m really going to make a change! But then, by the time February rolls around, nothing has changed.
If that sounds like you, today’s message is for you. Stick around until the end.
Everything starts with purpose. Purpose is what gives meaning to everything we do. If you know your purpose, you know what’s important. If you live according to your purpose, you experience true life.
There are two of the greatest moments in a person’s life:
If you don’t know your purpose, life can feel empty. It can feel like you’re just drifting. But when you find your purpose, everything changes.
Let’s talk about what the Bible says about purpose.
Proverbs 29:18 says:
"Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
The word vision here refers to God’s revelation—His plan, His purpose for us. Without a clear purpose, people lose direction. They become lost.
Think about it—if you don’t have a clear vision for your life, you might wake up every day feeling stuck, wondering, Why am I doing this? What’s the point? That’s what this verse is talking about.
The opposite of that is when we live in alignment with God’s purpose. The verse says, "He that keeps the law, happy is he." That means those who live by God’s guidance experience joy and fulfillment.
Let’s be real. Have you ever ridden a packed train in the morning and looked around at the faces of the people? Lifeless eyes. Blank expressions. They look like zombies—physically alive, but with no spark of purpose.
Why? Because they don’t have a vision for their lives. They don’t know why they wake up every morning. They’re just going through the motions.
But you weren’t created for that.
If you don’t know your purpose, you won’t have a vision.
A vision isn’t just about personal dreams. It’s not about what you want to do—it’s about discovering what God created you for.
Let’s think about it logically. If you buy a new gadget but don’t know what it’s for, you can’t use it correctly. But if you read the instructions, you understand its purpose, and it becomes useful.
It’s the same with life. God is the one who created us, so He is the only one who can reveal our true purpose.
Psalm 139:13-14 says:
"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
This verse tells us that we weren’t created randomly. God designed every detail of our lives with intention. You are not an accident. You were created for a reason.
When I was younger, I struggled with this. I didn’t know why I was here, so I just did whatever I wanted. I lived selfishly, thinking it would make me happy.
I partied. I hung out with friends. I chased excitement. I did everything I thought would make me feel alive.
But no matter how much fun I had, something always felt missing.
Have you ever felt that? Like you’re doing everything you thought would make you happy, but deep down, there’s still an emptiness?
That’s what happens when you live without purpose.
Then I met Jesus.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
I understood why I was born. I understood why I was alive. I understood what I was meant to do.
When I accepted Jesus, my life was filled with love, joy, hope, and vision. The world that once seemed meaningless suddenly became full of purpose.
Here’s the difference between a worldly purpose and a God-given purpose:
Some people find temporary fulfillment in their jobs, their hobbies, or their relationships. But what happens when those things are taken away? What happens when life doesn’t go as planned?
That’s why you need an eternal purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 says:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God’s plan for you is good. His purpose for you is filled with hope.
Ephesians 3:20 says:
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."
Maybe you’ve set goals for 2023. Maybe you’ve prayed for things to change in your life. But let me tell you—God’s plans for you are even greater than anything you could dream of.
Whatever breakthrough you’re hoping for, whatever change you want in your life—God can do far beyond what you expect.
So how do you start living in purpose?
So here’s my challenge to you:
If you’re saying, I want to follow Jesus. I want to live for Him. I want to step into my God-given purpose—then type "I believe" in the chat.
Let’s pray.
Jesus, I thank You for every person listening right now. Reveal Your purpose to them. Fill them with Your love, Your vision, and Your hope. Let 2023 be a year of breakthrough and transformation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Let’s live this year with purpose.
Amen.
