“The moment someone chooses to trust in Jesus Christ, his/her sins are wiped away, and he/she is adopted into God’s family. That individual is set apart as a child of God, with a sacred purpose.” -Charles Stanley

When we discover our purpose in life we can do so much more. Purpose gives us direction and the necessary energy to overcome every hurdle we face. This purpose helps us decide which road to take when faced with many options. The purpose is what helps us complete our goals.

The city of Philadelphia “was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a means of spreading Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia; and so well did it do its work that by AD 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own language and were all but Greeks” (William Barclay. The Revelation of John, Vol. 1). Due to this purpose, Philadelphia became successful in bringing people into a Greek consciousness and culture at the cost of their original identity. “That is what the risen Christ means when he speaks of the open door that is set before Philadelphia” in Revelation 3:7 (ibid).

What is your purpose? Does your purpose drive you to success in business, academics, sports, the arts, family, etc.? Does your purpose have enough room for Jesus? As Charles Stanley suggests we as Christians are set apart for a sacred purpose. Our sacred purpose is to share the love of Jesus with the world.

Notice what Dr. Ranko Stefanovic mentions about the purpose of the church in Philadelphia:

The situation of the church in Philadelphia coincided with the situation in Christianity during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This period was characterized by a great revival of Protestantism. Various movements revitalized genuine faith in the saving grace of Christ, and that resulted in a restoration of the spirit of Christian fellowship and self-sacrifice. The church during this period was driven by a genuine desire to carry the gospel to the whole world. As a result, there was a great propagation of the gospel that had never before been experienced” (Plain Revelation, p. 51).

May we follow the example of Philadelphia. May we become so in love with Christ that we decide to follow Him where He leads. May we become so devoted that we take up our sacred purpose in order to share Jesus with the world!