by Roby Ellis

A. When Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz, he ordered his servants to drop some barley on purpose for her to gather (Ruth 2:14-17).

B. When Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph, he intentionally bestowed the greater blessing on the younger (Genesis 48:8-20).

C. We need to live our lives with a sense of purpose.

I. We need to worship with a sense of purpose.

A. We should sing as if we want to (Ephesians 5:18-20).

B. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we should recall its true purpose—to show the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:20-30).

C. We must give with the proper purpose (2 Corinthians 9:7).

D. We should also pray with purpose (1 Corinthians 14:15).

II. We need to live every aspect of our lives with a sense of purpose.

A. Find a purpose in what you do for a living (Colossians 3:18-22).

B. Make your service to God your purpose in life (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

C. Raise your children with a sense of purpose (Proverbs 22:6).

D. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

III. We need to obey God with the right purpose in our hearts.

A. It is possible to obey a commandment with an attitude that renders our compliance unacceptable (Matthew 6:1-7).

B. We need to attend services for the right purpose (1 Corinthians 11:26).

C. We must obey the Gospel for the right reason (Acts 2:38-47).

D. If we will learn to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), obedience will be the inevitable result.

Purpose makes a difference in everything that we do, and a life filled with purpose is a life that is well worth living.