eTidings May 2009

HOW TO FIND PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE IN YOUR LIFE
A LADDER TOWARD SIGNIFICANCE
Read John 3:1-18

STEP ONE – SEEK AFTER YOUR PURPOSE
In the economy of his world, Nicodemus was considered a very successful man. He was a man of wealth. He was a man of prestige and influence. He was a leader in his community and in his church. He had everything his world thought important.

So what would compel such a successful man to search out an itinerant teacher in the middle of the night? Apparently in all of his life endeavors Nicodemus had not found satisfaction and purpose. Now, having reached his middle age years, Nicodemus was seeking for more than success. He longed for significance. He sought out the one person who could show him how to find purpose and significance in his life. He went to Jesus.

He went at night so none of his friends and associates would know. After all he was a member of the ruling council in his church. It would not do to be seeking answers from a non-orthodox teacher. Yet the need for purpose was great, great enough that Nicodemus took a chance.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow formulated a human needs theory that he called “The Hierarchy of Human Needs,” in which he posited that human beings have specific needs ranging from the most basic to the most advanced. At the bottom of his hierarchy are physiological needs, then safety needs, followed by belonging needs, then esteem needs, and finally at the top of the scale, self-actualization needs. Included in self-actualization are issues of truth, goodness, beauty, unity, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness, perfection, completion, justice, simplicity, richness, effortlessness, playfulness, self-sufficiency, and meaningfulness. Taken in total we might call this the need for purpose and significance. If a humanistic psychologist could see our need for significance, how much more can the God that created man understand these needs?

The beginning of our search for purpose and significance begins with the same teacher to whom Nicodemus turned. The answer to the human need for self-actualization is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This miracle working man will perform miracles in the heart of every person that will come to him. He will transform all of us into new creations, if we will let him. Today is a good day to come to Jesus.

STEP TWO – FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN CHRIST
We have seen that every person has a hierarchy of needs ranging from physical to social to personal to spiritual. We are compelled to seek fulfillment of our needs by an innate internal drive. We seek the quenching of physical hungers and thirsts. We seek security and safety. We seek to belong to something or someone in social relationships. We seek the respect of others and some kind of status in our group, as well as self-respect and self-confidence. Ultimately we need an infusion of spiritual purpose and significance. While we most often begin with the physical and end with the spiritual, Jesus begins with the spiritual, teaching that the rest will follow. He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [food, drink, clothing, security, status] will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33 (NIV).

Jesus begins with the most important single decision of our lives. He said to Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" John 3:3 (NIV). Remember that Nicodemus had not asked Jesus how he could see the kingdom of God. He had come saying, in essence, “I know you are a great teacher; I know you are a miracle worker; and I know you come from God.” It was a good beginning, but not nearly enough for him to discover God’s purpose for his life. And it was not enough for Nicodemus to find the significance in his life that was missing in spite of his success in life. Nicodemus had come to Jesus to find answers to his questions. In Jesus he found the way to purpose and significance.

Nicodemus did not at first understand what Jesus meant when He said, “You must be born again.” That is not unusual, for we do not readily understand either. The word Jesus used for “again,” is the Greek word, “anothen,” which can have three meanings. It can mean a second time, which is the way we most commonly understand it. It can also mean completely and/or radically. It may be used to mean from above, and therefore, from God. So in essence, Jesus was saying, “You must be born a second time, completely, radically, from God.” It is this new birth that gives one the possibility of a life of significance, a life that is lived in harmony with the purposes of God. It is a life that comes from embracing Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.

STEP THREE –IN PURPOSE I FIND SIGNIFICANCE
What is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of my life? One of the early Christian documents is called the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which asks, “What is the chief end of man?” It then answers that question, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Man’s chief end is his purpose in life.

Sadly, many persons in the world today neither glorify God nor enjoy him ever. Rather so many of us fear God, ignore God, hate God, or fight against God. Consequently, we can never in this state of mind ever glorify God and enjoy him. This should not surprise us. The Bible says, “8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…. 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:8; 10 (NIV) [Emphasis mine]

Is it any wonder that we have difficulty understanding what Jesus meant when he said, “You must be born again.” While we are still sinners, enemies of God, we have no way of understanding the gospel, much less understanding the purpose of life. As scripture reveals, “4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The result of sin in the heart of men is that we who were created in the image of God cannot recognize Christ, the image of God.

So Jesus Christ comes to find us. He entered the world as a baby. He revealed himself as a teacher, a miracle worker, noted as coming from God. He came to give himself as a sacrifice so that you and I could be redeemed. He came to save us from sin and from ourselves. He came to offer us eternal life and abundant life. He came to give our lives purpose - to glorify God and enjoy him forever. He came to show us that in his purpose our lives, like his, will prove to be significant.

A life in Christ is a life that finds significance in living for a greater cause than ones self. It is a significance that enters into the kingdom of God, that lives for the greater good of the kingdom of God, and that expands the kingdom of God by witnessing to the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ. In Christ I find my purpose; in my purpose I find significance. In significance I find and approve of God’s perfect will for me. I cannot do better than that.

PrimeTime News

Prime Time Willow Valley - October 6-9, 2009
Plan now to join other Prime Time Nazarenes in Lancaster, PA. Sessions and housing will be at Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center. Special speaker will be Dr. Nina Gunter. More information will be available within a month. Watch the eTidings and Website.

If you have any questions regarding PrimeTime Ministries in the Eastern Michigan District, please contact:
Richard and Carolyn Dilts at 734-844-0052 or rcdilts@sbcglobal.net

THANK YOU TO ALL PASTORS WHO REPORT ON TIME EACH MONTH
Here are the May 2009 SDMI Reporting Results

1st Zone to fully report: Ann Arbor Zone
2nd Zone to fully report: Detroit East Zone

1st churches to report by:
Online: South Flint
Email: Fowlerville
Phone: Bad Axe

Jot me an email note with any questions or suggestions at scnnazpastorgary@charterinternet.com. God is growing a great church in Eastern Michigan. We are blessed to be a part of his great kingdom work!

Gary A. Slusher
Chairman, EMD SDMI

2008-2009 Children's Quizzing Schedule

Saturday, June 27 - World Quiz @ Orlando, FL (studies 1-20)