God Has a Positive Purpose for You

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
—-Jeremiah 1:5

Contrary to the bleak assessment of human life by some scientists, our existence is no biological accident. You and I are not simply the products of some primordial chemical broth that oozed over the planet.

The Bible declares that God created each of us with a special, positive purpose. Remember God’s words to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

God’s words to Jeremiah give us insight about His purpose for you and for me. God is the One who formed us in the womb. This verse reminds us that life begins inside the womb. Every unborn child is skillfully fashioned by the hand of God.

This verse also says that even before He formed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb, God knew him. The word translated “knew” in this verse is more than an intellectual knowledge of Jeremiah; it is a Hebrew word used to describe the intimate relationship between a husband and wife. The point here is that before Jeremiah was even conceived, God already deeply, intimately knew him.

And notice that while Jeremiah was still being woven together in his mother’s womb, God had singled him out for a positive purpose. Similarly, before you were born, God set you apart for His special purpose for your life.

God declares to Jeremiah—as well as to each of us—that our existence is no accident. We did not evolve by chance from some primordial ooze. Instead, our Creator proclaims throughout the Bible these clear messages:

• I am the One who made you.
• I formed you in your mother’s womb.
• I know everything about you.
• And I have set you apart for a positive purpose.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “The Power of a Positive Purpose” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.