What is your purpose? Have you ever spent time thinking about that? Why did God place you here on this earth at this time and in the place where you live? What has He called you to do? What is your purpose?

Through the last few months, I have been thinking a lot about God’s purpose for my life. I firmly believe He wants me to live in such a way that others see Him. This is a common purpose for all who know Jesus as their Savior. Yet, I feel through reading His Word, time in prayer, listening to conference speakers, and conversations with fellow believers that God is helping me become more specific in defining my purpose. He is impressing upon me the hearts of the next generation and those around me who do not know Jesus. As I grow closer in my relationship with the Lord, I have a better understanding of the specific ways I can serve Him and help other people grow in their relationship with Jesus. While I am growing to know the specifics of my purpose for being here, John the Baptist was born with the specifics of his purpose. God brought him into this world to prepare the way for Jesus.

The birth of John the Baptist was foretold to Zechariah as he was serving God in the temple offering incense. An angel approached him telling him his prayers had been answered! With he and his wife being old and well past the age to have children, many would think the angel’s announcement they would have a son was the “good news.” While this was good news, it was not necessarily what Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for. Though they were delighted to finally have a child, the joy flowed because this son, John, would be the forerunner of the Savior. John’s purpose as he came into the world was the good news. John would prepare the way for the coming Messiah, Jesus.

“He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:15b-17)

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, letting the people know their Savior had come into the world. He prepared the way for the Messiah and led people to Jesus. He shared the good news that the Savior of the world had finally come. John the Baptist was born with a purpose, yet his purpose is not unlike our own.

At the moment of salvation when we were born into the family of God, we were given a purpose. As we wait for the second return of Jesus, we are commanded to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV). God has called each of us to go out into our area of the world and lead people to Him. We share the good news to those around us the precious gift of salvation from sin and the promised eternal life to all who believe. While we all have been given a purpose for being on this earth, God helps us learn the specifics of our call as we draw closer to Him. He enables us to share His truth through our lives in a way others cannot. Whether through the written word or by example, whether through a conversation or a smile, I am to show people Jesus. While it may look different in your life from mine, we have each been given the same purpose.

So, what is your purpose? What specific ways can you prepare the way for Jesus’ coming and lead the next generation to Him? Pray for specific ways God can use you to show people around you Him, so the next generation will know the good news.