“What do you want them to know?”  A great question to think about when it comes to the ministry we have with our campers. After all, most of the time, we only have 6 days. And these years are a pivotal time in their lives…

One thing that I want to speak into Ranch campers this summer is that they were made for a purpose. Simple. But understanding this truth shapes everything about how we live our lives.

In Isaiah 43, we are told exactly why we were made. “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” -Is. 43:7

We were made for the glory of God.

A few years ago, my wife and I bought a house that was a foreclosure. This house was in awful condition when we bought it. You could describe this house as janky. So went to work. 9 weeks later, we had put in new flooring and trim, new lighting fixtures, painted every wall and ceiling, and did a lot of other things as well. One of the benefits of this process was expanding my tool collection and learning how to do some new things when it comes to home repair.

I bring this up, because when I think about why we were made, I picture tools…. They are only useful if they are being used according to their design. A crow bar for instance is made to be used in the demolition phase. It’s purpose is to give you leverage when you’re removing things like old trim or nails. A miter saw is great for making cuts on laminate flooring. A miter saw makes an awful crow bar, and a crow bar won’t cut a thing. But, when you’re using either of these tools in line with how they are designed, you can accomplish much.

In the same way, we are designed, fashioned by God Himself, with a very specific purpose. And when we are in step with that purpose, we are fulfilled and great things can be accomplished through us. But, when we try to live outside of that purpose (i.e. live for our own glory), we frustrate the reason for why we were made, and we come up empty and unfulfilled. Jeremiah warns the people of Israel that they have “dug for themselves broken cisterns, that cannot hold water” (Jer. 2:13).

In my own life, I find that it is easy to say that my life exists for His glory, but it is hard to actually believe those words at times. This is revealed in my frustration when things don’t go my way, my aversion to suffering and relationships that are hard, and my lack of passion for the things that bring God glory.

May we discipline ourselves to believe it. That God made us for His glory. And in that, we find joy and purpose.