Our Purpose Is To Serve God | Northstar Church

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.” Acts 13:36 NIV)

Every movie that is made has a purpose. The movie may fail to achieve that purpose but it still has a purpose. Through the story of the movie, the film’s producers hope to convey emotions to the viewer, raise awareness about an issue, educate about a subject, entertain, and hopefully make money. Moana was entertaining, educated us on the culture of the Polynesian people, and grossed $690 million.

Each of us who are moviegoers has a purpose for going to a movie. We want to be entertained, or educated about a subject or maybe we just want to see how far movie makers can take computer-generated imagery (CGI) today. We also have a purpose spiritually. God chooses to use people to serve His purposes. There is a purpose in life and there is a purpose to life.

David is a great example of a man with a teachable spirit, whose heart was quick to repent: a loyal, faithful, and obedient heart that delighted to do God’s will. A thousand years after David lived, Luke, included a few thoughts about David: “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…” (Acts 13:36 NIV). For a few moments, think about your life in comparison to what Luke wrote about David. First, he served God’s purpose. David served God’s purpose according to the will of God. That’s a powerful thought. The Bible tells us that God has a purpose for your life. The writers of Scripture contend that what happens to your life is important. Paul wrote, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17). Are you accomplishing God’s purpose for your life?

The second thought is that David was responsible only for his own generation. You can’t change the past, but you can do something about your generation, today, the world in which you live. It is easy to think that you don’t have much, if any influence. But that is not true. Every person influences somebody. You, like David, can serve God’s purpose, making a real difference in people’s lives.

The purpose God gives us is not beyond us. David made many mistakes in his personal life, yet God looked at his heart and said, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.” (verse 22).

Discussion Questions:

When you think about how God knows everything, does that make you feel any differently about His purpose for you?
Is it hard for you to commit to following God’s purpose for your life? Why or why not?
What can you do this week to discover and work toward God’s purpose for your life?