Some people go day-to-day searching to find their purpose in living. Pastor Gary Dennis reminds us that our purpose comes from God, but it is not about inviting God into our life. Rather, it is about Jesus inviting us into His life. He says, “Purpose is not found as we integrate God into our plan. We discover purpose as God integrates us into His plan. We should not try to align God with our priorities but become aligned with God’s priorities. As King Solomon dedicated the Temple he had built, he expressed the purpose of the Temple and by implication, the purpose of his people who would gather there. He realized God had chosen both Abraham and his father David for a reason. God had delivered his people from slavery after 400 years—for a reason. In 1 Kings chapter 8, King Solomon identified the purpose he built the Temple: that “people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other.” God’s blessings on Israel were intended to show other nations God’s nature and character. Today, as we align ourselves with God’s character and His agenda, we show the world who God is and what He can do for them.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
