Pilgrims with Purpose

Something miraculous happens at the instant a person surrenders to the Hound of Heaven. They become what I like to call Pilgrims with Purpose ~ citizens of heaven on the way home ~ and they are outfitted for the journey in a special way. Even though their destination may be secure, each pilgrim has a mission ~ a special purpose ~ to fulfill on their journey.

As we begin our way home, we are given personal provisions to use and we all get them in different measure. We are given an array of travel vouchers called time, talents and treasures. Add to those, special vouchers of tenderness.

I want to let you in on something important regarding these time, talent, treasure and tenderness vouchers.

• The goal is not to keep them!
• The goal is to use them for Kingdom purposes.

Ever get a voucher from an airline? If not used, they expire and are worthless. In a similar way, far too many pilgrims will arrive at end of their journey with all of their travel vouchers still in hand and they are worthless then.

When we arrive, the receipts for what we did in His name will have more value to us there than the vouchers ever did here. The vouchers are worthless when we arrive but those receipts are priceless! We don't necessarily get to see those receipts we acquire on the journey - but I am confident that He has each one of them secured in our account.

The Apostle Peter knew that we can easily become more like a citizen of the world and less like a pilgrim on sacred journey. If we forget that the journey will end, we can easily spend our time, talents, treasures and tenderness on trinkets offered on the roadsides of life. For that reason, Peter wrote these words:

… remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth (1 Peter 1:17)

Pilgrims with Purpose are called to an uncommon mission.

• We are not to be divided but unified
• We are not to be me-focused but they-focused
• We are not to harbor grudges, but to drain our hearts of bitterness
• We are not to withhold giving to others but to share with others generously
• We are not to love only when others love us first, but we are to love much!

To be honest, if we lived that way, really lived like Pilgrims with Purpose, using our vouchers purposely there would be no room in our churches on Sunday. People would be coming from everywhere to be refreshed and restored. Standing room only. Generous offerings. Numerous salvations. Frequent baptisms. Plentiful Servants.

It has been said that the new apologetic of our faith is not intellectual sophistication BUT justice. Compassion and justice are the platforms that healthy churches will stand on to share the love of Christ in our communities and the world. It is great to see this happening and it is in many places. That's the Church!

Are you a pilgrim with purpose? Click on the play button and see -