Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Matthew 5:13 MSG
What fun to attend my grandson Griffin’s Pre-K graduation! He and his classmates paraded in, proudly grinning and singing a little song “I’m Moving On!” They were wearing their own handmade graduation hats. During the brief program they quoted Bible verses they had memorized, sang a little more, and each child shared what they wanted to be and do when they grow up. It was delightful and made me a little teary-eyed to hear their thoughts. Griffin said he wanted to be a deep-sea diver, no big surprise because at this stage of life he is fascinated by all things ocean.
As I wondered how many of them would hold on to their original thought and who would change many times over before they settled on a career, my thoughts moved to something else, provoking a prayer: “Oh, God! You know You want them to do what they enjoy and what will bring real satisfaction. Above all, help them discover their real reason for being here, and to use whatever else they do in life as the handle for fulfilling that purpose!”
I pray the same thing for Griffin and his classmates that I pray for you and me. If Griffin does become a deep-sea diver, let him know deep within that this is his platform and door into the lives of the people he meets in that life in order to bring them to the joy of knowing God. Whatever our technical career or lifework is, God’s plan is that all of us will be deeply immersed in the same thing – being the salt-seasoning that makes people hungry to know God.
Whatever job I have in life, whatever role I play in my home, school, or community, my chief responsibility and fulfillment is in living life so attractively, compassionately, and generously that people become thirsty for what I have. God has designed life so that the humans He created would find their greatest purpose in knowing Him and sharing Him in life together. We are all wired to want a “taste” of what is satisfying to others. When we live our daily lives with our focus on fulfilling God’s purpose, simply by living faithfully with consistent integrity and joy, we will be a compelling advertisement for knowing God.
Doctor to deep-sea diver, homemaker to high-tech expert, student to scientist, coach to caregiver, and every other person who knows Jesus, has a reason to be here – we are to represent God so attractively that others want to know Him too. That’s the reason for Griffin and for me.
- God, help me be salty in the very best way. May You and I both be pleased with how well I fulfilled my reason for being here today.