If you were to do a Bible study on the topic of purpose, you would run into the Greek word for purpose, which is prothesis. It literally means setting forth and exposed before, and is almost always used in connection with the showbread that was part of the tabernacle and Temple. This showbread is also referred to as the bread of the presence. In Leviticus 24:5-9, we read,
"Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”
Let's draw some lessons from the bread of the presence and apply them to your life purpose over the next few studies. Let's start with number one:
- The bread was made of fine flour. Fine flour at that time was made by beating and grinding wheat. The higher the quality of flour, the more beating the wheat endured. That's how it is with your purpose. Often it's released or refined only after a process of preparation which can be deep, long, and tumultuous. The finest bread is made of the finest ingredients, which often take time and effort to prepare. There's no other way or shortcut. The fine flour of the Old Testament is always a type of Jesus, who endured much tribulation to see His purpose released and fulfilled. He was sifted and found to be "fine" in every way.
Your purpose is an expression of God's Kingdom rule in your life, as you carry out the King's royal assignment for your life and Paul encouraged and strengthened the disciples by saying, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Are you going through trials and tests? Could they be related to your purpose, either trying to prevent you from expressing it or training you as you do? Can you see that God may be transforming you into the bread of His presence that people will enjoy when they encounter you in your purpose?
Comments