Not Just Like Him - in Himنموونە

Day 3 - The River We’re Meant to Swim In

Have you ever wondered what your purpose was? I sure have. And I bet Peter did too, as it’s one of the universal questions of the human heart. I wonder if he could have even imagined God’s answer to that question when he responded to Jesus’ first invitation, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19, KJV).

I imagine Peter, growing up as a Jewish boy, studying the words of Moses and Isaiah. He would have known well the promise from Isaiah 43:20 (NLT): “...I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.” And Exodus 19:6 (NIV): “You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These words were spoken to Israel — Peter’s people. His Jewish heritage grounded him in the story of being part of the family known, loved, and set apart by God.

But now, through an intimate life with Jesus, Peter writes with a heart full of grace and wonder. In his letter to both Jewish and Gentile believers, he echoes those Old Testament promises — but applies them to a new, united people of God. A chosen people not defined by ethnicity, status, appearance, or nationality, but by the mercy and calling of God. In Christ, God has formed a new kind of humanity — one marked by His presence, love, and care. A people who, like Peter, carry a past, but now carry a new name: chosen.

Peter’s message rang loud and clear: you are part of a much larger story—one that began long before you and will continue long after you. There’s a river of life that has been flowing since the beginning of time, carrying with it hope, restoration, joy, peace, and the very breath of God. The same river that refreshed the people of Israel now flows through you.

This isn’t just about you being individually chosen—it’s about being swept into the current of something greater. You’ve been invited to step into the waters of a family chosen by God, a people formed and carried by His grace. Your life has a purpose—like a river, it moves with direction and depth, reaching places far beyond what you can see. And how do we learn to swim? We jump in—together.

So yes, it’s good to ask, “What is my purpose?” But perhaps an even more expansive question is, “Who am I meant to journey with?” Because being chosen isn’t just about having a calling. It’s about knowing you belong.

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19, ESV). With this, Jesus invites us—not just to a task, but to come with Him and to be formed into something. Jesus looks at both you and me, daily, and gives us the same invitation. You want to grab his hand, jump in, and learn to swim together?

Reflection Question: What if discovering your purpose isn’t just about what you’re called to do, but who you’re called to become—and who you’re called to become it with? Have a conversation with God about that question: “Who am I called to become - and who am I called to become it with?”