John 1:6-8
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Digging Deeper
As we read the passage, what words stand out to you and to me? You may want to circle or underline them. As I read the introduction of John the Baptist, it’s a story that we all familiar with that it was John who baptized Jesus in the Jordan. There’s something more to his life that meets our eyes. Let’s dig deeper.
As I read the passage, two words stands out for me. They are “sent” and “witness.” John the Baptist’s appearance was not accidental. He was sent by God. The word, sent, is from the verb, apostello, which means to send on service or with a commission. It may have been told to John as young child that his father, Zacharias, had a vision that his child would be the forerunner of the Messiah. His parents died when he was a young child. He couldn’t ask his parents to repeat that story to him. God directed his life perhaps being cared for by the priests or by one of the ascetic community. God had a plan for his life. His life’s mission was to a witness. The word, witness is used twice in this passage. A witness is a person who gives a truthful account of his encounter with that event. God was preparing John to give witness concerning the Light that was coming into the world.
How is that relevant to me? Every Christian asks, “What is my purpose in life?” or “What does God want me to do for Him?” Can it be that verse 6 answers that questions for us? That verse says, “There came a man who was sent from God; his name is John.” We can insert our name in the place of John. There came a man/woman who was sent from God; his/her name is (yours). We’re not searching for our life’s purpose. The Scripture is clear. We are witnesses of Jesus Christ. That is our ultimate purpose on earth to glory God by witnessing of what God has done in our lives and our experiences with Him. It’s not about discovering God’s will for my career, finding a spouse, enjoying a happy and blessed life, not even asking God to bless my retirement account. It’s about His Son. It’s about our Savior and Lord.
Application Thought
What has been your purpose in life? If you’re finding that your life is not satisfying, is it possible that your life’s purpose is off course? Do you need to make a life’s course change? Be still before the Lord and ask the Spirit of God to reveal to you what is His purpose for your life on earth. Your life will be rich and full when you know that you are running the race that God wanted you to run for him.