Fully Devoted: The FallSample

A Distorted Relationship With Work

God’s greatest work in the creation story is the human beings made in His image—creatures with dignity, value, and purpose. But when we rebelled against God, we turned our back on our purpose. Since then, people have wrestled with questions like: Does my life matter? What is my purpose? What difference am I supposed to make?

Before sin entered the picture, those answers were loud and clear from the God who formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed His Spirit into us. But sin has blinded us to the image of God in ourselves and the work we were created for. We’ve lost sight of who we really are and what we’re supposed to do.

Because of the Fall, we lost our purpose. And life without purpose is life without meaning. Which is why countless people are walking through life believing the lie that all of it is meaningless and that their lives don’t matter. But this could not be further from the truth. The blood of Jesus speaks a better word.

This is why the gospel is such good news! Through Jesus, a way has been made for us to be forgiven of our sins and restored to our purpose as partners with God!

Through Jesus, we’ve been filled with God’s Spirit and empowered to live in alignment with His will—which is always good, true, and life-giving.

One of the consequences of the Fall was the loss of purpose, but the promise of the gospel is a renewed purpose.

As people who have committed ourselves to the way of Jesus, we get to be part of the greatest purpose imaginable: Partnering with King Jesus in bringing heaven to earth.

There was a time when everything was good. Heaven and earth were one. God and humanity were united. Shame was nonexistent. Shalom—God’s peace—was present. And the promise of the gospel is that there will come a day when those former things are true again. God will make all things new. Until that day comes, when Jesus returns to finish what He started, we have a job to do.

Let’s look at those questions about our purpose again.

Does my life matter? Yes! You were created in the image of God. This means that God looks at you and calls you “very good.”

What is my purpose? You were created by the God of heaven and earth to partner with Him in His redemptive plan to rescue others from sin and restore creation.

What difference am I supposed to make? You are empowered by God’s Spirit to bring forgiveness and redemption to this fallen, rebellious world. This means that wherever you go, you get to bring hope and healing to those who are hurting. And, in whatever you do, you can use the gifts God has given you to serve people, solve problems, and glorify God in the process.

Because of the gospel, the questions that once plagued us now serve as reminders of who we really are and what we are made to do.

Journaling Questions

• Write down the verse that impacted you the most from today’s reading. Why did you choose that particular verse?
• Does my life matter? Answer in your own words.
• What is my purpose? Answer in your own words.

Memory Verse

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV