This post is a part of my series of once weekly devotionals called Faith for Thought. Bookmark the homepage for Faith for Thought here to return to it for the weekly update on Thursday!
[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.]
A Reading from Acts 19:23-34
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Acts 19:23-34, NIV
Devotion
I hate to reference anything political here (this may be the first and only time I do so on this blog), but something happened a couple weeks ago that made me think of the Bible story above.
I was watching the news, and they were interviewing a father whose son had participated and was arrested in the storming of the Capitol. The father said: “I have no idea why he was there; he really doesn’t even follow politics. He said he was going to the protests with a friend, and I thought nothing of it.”
He was genuinely bewildered.
And as I watched clips of the event later, looking at all the people, this same verse from the story above kept coming to mind over and over again: Most of the people did not even know why they were there. (v. 32)
Whether or not that’s true about what happened at the Capitol, I’m not interested in debating.
But it does make me wonder how often we end up in places without even knowing why we’re there.
And maybe a better question: What are we doing here on this earth, anyway?
When we think about our purpose — our calling on this earth — sometimes it evokes feelings of pressure and confusion.
What should I be doing with my life?
How do I know what to do?
What if I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing?
We make our purpose so complicated sometimes.
God tells us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
That doesn’t mean what we’re doing doesn’t matter; quite the opposite, actually. Everything we do matters, because we are serving the Lord.
Our purpose on earth isn’t so complicated: We’re here to love and serve God.
Everything that we do, every action that we take, every place we end up, should be in pursuit of loving God.
Take Action
Listen to Danny Gokey’s song Love God Love People. How have you so complicated your life’s purpose? No matter what you’re doing, where you’re working, or what stage of life you’re at, remember your purpose: Loving and glorifying God with every action you take. Instead of trying to change your circumstances so that you can better serve God, serve Him right now, wherever you’re at.
