“Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.” Mathew 17:18 NIV.

Further to my study of the Gospels, in order to know Jesus for myself, a small reflection came to mind that opened up even more questions. It seemed unrelated to the bible passage at first, but perhaps the Holy Spirit is bringing clarification to my understanding of how Jesus wants me to model my life after Him by living purposefully and fully.

I was reading Matthew 17, where Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy, and I found myself wondering whether that was Jesus’ assignment, His purpose or His destiny.

I will not try to be overly intellectual, but it is a similar kind of conversation we have across different areas within our theology as Christians. For example, we talk about God being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit with love anchoring them all, and humans having a spirit with a soul that lives in a body. It is all connected and works cohesively, yet at the same time each part is distinct, functioning with equal importance as God intended. This concept of assignment, purpose and destiny is no different, as you cannot have one functioning without the others.

As I continued to read through the passages, I began to write down how I differentiate the three, even though we often use the terms interchangeably. Other questions came to mind, such as, what is the best way to define each term clearly, as they are so divinely linked, and how does one know their destiny, as this can surely only be revealed near the end of one’s lifespan?

I tried to write this down as I reflected specifically on what I know about Jesus through the Word:

1) Assignment
According to online definitions, an assignment is a task or piece of work allocated to someone as part of a role, or a divinely appointed task.

• Example from Jesus: Jesus healed the sick, drove out demons, bound up wounds and brought freedom.

2) Purpose (including the above assignments)
According to online definitions, purpose is the reason for which something is done or created, or the intention behind it. In a Christian context, it reflects God’s intention behind His actions and the lives of individuals.

• Example from Jesus: To win the lost for the Kingdom of God, bring salvation, defeat sin and death, and glorify God the Father through His death on the cross.

3) Destiny (fully revealed at the end)
According to online definitions, destiny refers to events that will necessarily happen in the future. It encompasses the belief that God, in His sovereignty, has a predetermined plan for each person, unfolding according to His will.

• Example from Jesus: To be seated at the right hand of the Father, reigning over creation, with authority over life and death, and with Satan under His feet.

From this, I believe God is encouraging us to truly understand these differences. Assignments are often for a season, and once completed, something new may follow. This means we are not always restricted to doing the same activities repeatedly. Rather, God makes us diverse so we can move into different capacities, living in purpose and ultimately fulfilling destiny.

Let us all endeavour to study what assignment, purpose and destiny are. They are equally important, yet uniquely different, working together to bring glory to God at every stage.

Let us learn together and discuss this as believers. Does this reflect your personal beliefs or understanding? Do you have other viewpoints on this? As you reflect on your current journey, are you clear on your purpose?

Prayer
Father, thank You for this time of revelation, reflection and intimacy with You as I learn more about You through Your Word. I pray today for clarity in understanding my assignments, my purpose and my destiny, that I may walk a fulfilled and purpose-driven life that glorifies You. Wherever I have made mistakes in this journey or rejected the guidance of the Holy Spirit, forgive me and redirect my footsteps according to Your will. As Jesus accomplished every stage and was identified as the One with whom You were well pleased, help me to model my life after Him and grant me the grace to do so. Thank You for deepening me in this way, and I pray that You would bless this season of living in purpose.

If these quiet-time reflections are blessing you, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments based on the questions mentioned earlier in this piece. Don’t forget to share with others, and subscribe so you can stay up to date with future posts. ❤

Ruth xx