Seek, Find, Pursue

“Is there something more than this?” You may have asked yourself that question and pondered possible answers.

“What exactly does God have in mind for my life?” You may have thought of possibilities but found that the true answer still eludes you.

“How do I know if this is what God is calling me to?” Although you think you know the answer, you want to be sure so you don’t pursue something that is a dead end road.

What led you to this book? Are you overshadowed with the monotony of life and looking for a way to bring more meaning into it? Do you feel that spiritually you are going through the motions and want to take your relationship with Christ to a new level? Perhaps you don’t know Christ at all but know that you don’t like where you’ve been and desperately want something more for your life.

Whatever your reason may be, we have all come here for the same one – the way we’ve been living is no longer good enough and we are seeking a greater sense of purpose. Indeed, all of God’s creation was made with a purpose. In Isaiah 55:10-11, God tells us:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

If God has created rain and snow with a specific purpose, how much more so has He created us with a specific purpose? God did not create anything or anyone simply because He felt like it; as verse 11 reminds us, God creates all things with an expectation that each part of creation will accomplish what He desires. Psalm 139:13-16 provides further emphasis that God has a specific purpose for us in mind:

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Before each of us was even born, God took the time to plan out every day of our lives – each challenge, each victory, each activity. God planned how our lives would begin and how they would end. He gave us our personalities, our quirks, and our talents. God planned out each day because He had something in mind for each of us; something bigger than ourselves and something good. He didn’t send us here and equip us with certain talents or skills just to see us wander aimlessly without a purpose. Just like the rain and snow, God has sent each of us to earth because He has a purpose for us and He expects us to fulfill it. So what is it? Are you wondering what exactly God is calling you to do? Do you want your life to be more fulfilling, to make Him happy, and to accomplish great things for His kingdom, but don’t know how exactly to do that? Are you unsure about how to find what your calling is? Do you want to be certain that what you think is your calling is actually what God wants?

There was another group of people who struggled with the same questions. A group of people who didn’t know exactly what was expected of them, didn’t know how to carry on God’s purpose for their lives, and for some, didn’t even realize they had a calling. This group we know as the disciples in the book of Acts. When the book of Acts was written, Jesus had already left earth but His ministry needed to continue. Jesus was no longer around to preach the gospel, care for the sick, and help the poor. The people He left behind were now responsible for continuing what He started. After Jesus left earth, His disciples went through a period of fear and utter confusion about what to do and how to possibly “preach the Gospel to every nation” as Jesus commanded before He left. However, in the book of Acts, God revealed His purpose for each of His disciples and showed them what it truly meant to pursue the calling He assigned them and created them for.

In Seek, Find, Pursue. you will be journeying through the book of Acts. After reading each chapter in Acts, read the corresponding chapter in this book. In following the disciples’ experiences, you too will make discoveries about what ministries God is directing you toward, how you will know what your calling is, and what will be expected of you when you find it. As you read the book of Acts, a book full of people seeking and finding God’s calling for their lives, keep your own mind open to where God is calling you – and be willing to take the leap of faith to pursue it.