Today, we'll explore the concept of partnering with God and His purposes in the earth.

God is already at work all around us.

He is asking us today to have eyes to see it, and step in with him to see his will fulfilled in the earth. As we assess

our hearts today, may you go forth with a deep sense of purpose and calling. Everything with God

starts and ends with relationship, and he simply wants to co-labor with you.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,

that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2.9.

True friends are those who are willing to partner with us in the things that really matter to us.

True friends are willing to help out simply because they love us, even if the task isn't something they would have ordinarily valued.

In John 2115, we gain insight into a conversation between two friends, Jesus and Simon Peter.

Scripture says, when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him,

Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. Jesus didn't ask Simon Peter if his heart burned for taking care of his people. He didn't ask Peter his plans after Jesus had gone. After being established in the heart of Peter as Lord, Jesus simply asked him if he loved him.

I've spent so much of my time trying to figure out what I liked, what I felt like doing.

I've taken all the gift tests, personality tests, and strength tests.

And while God absolutely fashions, forms, and equips us for unique purposes,

I believe God is asking the same question of you and me that he did Peter.

I believe that our purposes are to be foundationally birthed out of utter devotion to Jesus above what we want or feel equipped to do.

Jesus is looking for disciples who will say yes to that which is greater than they could have ever imagined doing.

He's looking for friends like Simon Peter who will follow him wherever he leads, even if it means to their death.

He's looking for those who are so in love with him that at a single statement from his lips, we will willingly and obediently respond by taking up our cross as he did in living a surrendered, purposeful life.

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