JUNE 1, 2026

  “Find a purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live.” 

― Criss Jami

2 CHRONICLES 4-6

36“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; 37and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.(6:36-39)

JOHN 12:20-50

42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

JOURNAL 

"Find a purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live."

I think so much of my life, and honestly much of our culture, is centered around the pursuit of lifestyle. We chase comfort, success, security, experiences, health and all the things we believe will create the life we want. We spend years building and protecting a lifestyle. Yet the more I think about it, the more I realize how fragile a lifestyle really is. It can disappear with a diagnosis, a financial setback, a job loss, a broken relationship, or simply the passing of time. A lifestyle depends on circumstances. A purpose does not.

As I read Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6, what stood out to me was that he fully expected the people to fail. He knew they would sin. He knew there would be seasons when they would suffer the consequences of their choices and perhaps even find themselves in exile. Yet his confidence was not in their ability to avoid failure. His confidence was in God's willingness to receive them when they returned with all their heart and soul. Even in captivity, purpose remained. Even when everything else was stripped away, they could still turn toward God. Their land could be taken. Their freedom could be taken. Their status could be taken. But their purpose could not be taken because their purpose was ultimately found in Him.

Then I read John 12 where it says that many believed in Jesus but would not openly acknowledge Him because they loved the praise of people more than the praise of God. That verse cuts deeper than I would like to admit. So much of what drives us comes back to approval. We want to be admired, respected, validated, and accepted. We want people to think we are successful, wise, accomplished, or important. Yet approval is every bit as fragile as lifestyle. It rises and falls with the opinions of people who are often struggling to find their own approval.

The contrast that keeps coming to mind is found in Colossians 3 where Paul tells slaves to work wholeheartedly, not for their earthly masters, but for the Lord. At first glance that seems impossible. How could someone faithfully serve under a cruel master? The answer is that their purpose was bigger than their circumstances. Their purpose was not tied to whether they had comfort, freedom, recognition, or even fair treatment. Their purpose was to honor Christ. A cruel master could not take that away. Hard circumstances could not take that away. Captivity could not take that away.

If my goal is a lifestyle, then I will constantly be shaken whenever life fails to cooperate. If my goal is approval, then I will always be at the mercy of what other people think. But if my goal is to love God, love others, and faithfully serve the purpose He has given me, then I possess something that success cannot improve and failure cannot destroy.

The older I get, the more I realize  that purpose is eternal. One changes with the seasons and the other survives every season. Maybe that is why people throughout history have endured suffering, hardship, and loss while still living lives of extraordinary joy and meaning. They were living for a purpose rather than a lifestyle.

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

COLOSSIANS 3:22-24