Sermon

Does God Have a Purpose for Me

Theme

God has a plan for us.

Object

An emty box

Scripture

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Good morning! Let me show you all what I have today. What is it? It’s an empty box! What can you do with an empty box? Well, we can stand it up on it’s side and pretend that it is a refrigerator! But wait……if we really use it for that, then all the food we put in will begin to spoil and stink up the place. OK, we can lay it flat, climb in it and use it for a car! But wait….I’m too big to fit in the box. I’d crush it! Besides, it has no wheels……we wouldn’t get very far. I know! I’ll use it for a hat! But wait…..the box is too big for my head, and it really isn’t very stylish. Hmmm…..maybe this box just doesn’t have a purpose. But this box has a purpose! It is best used when it is used as it was designed! You can put things in the box and store things in it! That is what this box was made for! It is only really of value to me if I can use it for what I designed it for! This box is a lot like you and me, kids. God says in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a plan for our lives. We might try to live our lives the way we want to, but we will only really be of great value to anyone when we are doing what God has planned for us. He has a very important plan for each of us, and God wants us to find it and fulfill it--all with His help, of course! When we discover what God’s plans are for us, we find great joy in being what God made us to be. As a matter of fact, we’ll find a lot of satisfaction in doing things we never dreamed of. Let’s pray: Father, we thank you that you have a plan for our lives. Help us to discover those plans and to allow you to complete those plans. We want to be useful to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.