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Jump Start # 947

 

Jump Start # 947

Acts 13:36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay.”

 

We wrap up our series on David by looking at a passage that gives an incredible summary to his life. David was a man of God. David loved the Lord. David was Israel’s greatest king. The nation of Israel was the largest and strongest under David’s leadership. Jesus is in the lineage of David. Often, Jesus is referred to as “son of David.” Jesus sits on David’s throne.

Our passage today reminds us of two great principles.

1. David served the purpose of God. That is our calling and purpose. We need to be about the purpose of God. The creation serves the Creator. We were made for His purpose. Many do not get this. They live without God. They live for themselves. They see their purpose as the pursuit of money or happiness. That defines their life. Where they have been, what they own, how large their house is—that impresses them and they use that to try to impress others. David served the purpose of God. That implies that he understood God’s purpose and then he set about fulfilling and living that purpose.

 

God wants us to be like Jesus (Rom. 8:28). God wants us to be His people, which means we are to be like He is. We are to be holy, generous, kind, and people of the book. When we set about doing those things we touch lives for the better. We impact people and help them. We leave a trail of goodness and good deeds. We bring value to life by living for God and His ways. There were days when David got off that purpose of God, as we do. His greatest mistakes came during those times. When he got back to doing what he was supposed to, he did his greatest good.

 

God has a purpose for each of us. His purpose is not so specific as living in Montana or Miami or working with my hands or on a keyboard. Some see it that way. Some believe every choice in life is made by God. They will say, “God wanted me to move to this city,” or, “God wanted me to switch my major in college,” or, “God wanted me to work in this field.” Putting God into those statements gives them assurance that they lack and if it falls apart, it wasn’t their fault, somehow it is God’s. I don’t know how a person can know that God wants them to live in Montana? The Bible doesn’t say that. They must be living on feelings. God doesn’t operate that way. God’s purpose is defined in the Scriptures. So, whether you are a mom at home, a pilot, a school teacher or a student in college, God wants you to serve His purpose. God needs godly moms and godly pilots, and godly teachers and godly students. You can serve God in Montana or Miami or in the city or in the country. God doesn’t pick our careers or our houses or our friends. We do. We make those choices based upon the wisdom we learn from God’s word. Our choices reflect insight from God.

David served the purpose of God. That’s what we should do.

2. David served the purpose of God in his generation. That’s what we are given– this generation. We may wish that we lived in another generation, but here we are. Our work is for now. We don’t try to do something so lasting and great that it will cross many generations. That won’t happen. We work for now. This is the time given to us. One of my passions is studying the lives of long ago preachers. I have a lot of material in that area. I have file cabinets full of old church bulletins that were written before I was born. I think about those long ago preachers. They did what I do. They tried their best to teach the word of God to the people they came in contact with. They strengthened the faith of brethren. Sermons, classes and articles were used to accomplish these tasks. These men poured hours upon hours into their sermons and articles. Where are those things today? A few sit in my file cabinets rather quietly. The rest have done their good and have gone on. The same will be said of my stuff. I have even more file cabinets of all my sermons, articles and classes. I pour my heart into this work. Some day all of these things, including all of these Jump Starts, will be forgotten. If there are more generations, they won’t know anything about them. It is to this generation that we work. Forget monuments, legacies, and making a name—serve the purpose of God in this generation. This is your time. This is where you belong. This is where your effort is needed.

After our passing, if it could be said that we served the purpose of God in this generation, then we have really done something.

Roger