20 Bible Verses About Living Life With Purpose

Recently, I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with a new friend. We met at a coffee shop to read the Gospel of John together. I would read a paragraph or two, add some commentary or background information, and then we’d discuss what it meant. I could tell she was paying close attention, seeking to understand, but I wasn’t sure how this information was landing in her heart.

After we read a few chapters, she leaned back from the table and wiped tears from her eyes. She said, “I can’t believe I’ve lived my whole life, believing in Chakras and New Age stuff, but I haven’t really understood who Jesus is.” I rejoiced that the Holy Spirit was revealing Jesus to her, but I recognized some sadness there, too. The beauty of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures was sweet, but the realization of time and energy spent searching for purpose outside of him brought bitter regret.

The good news of the Gospel is that life in Christ brings renewed purpose, no matter how many years we’ve wasted without him. Once we surrender our lives and hearts to him, he makes us new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). Now in Christ, our lives transform from living for self to having a sold-out, single-hearted, full-send pursuit of knowing and loving him.

What does a life with renewed purpose look like? How can we redeem our time and live purposefully for Christ? God’s Word has a lot to say about purposeful living for Christ. Here are twenty verses to start your study.

20 Verses About Living Life with Purpose

Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)
Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Acts 13:36 (ESV)
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,
John 17:4 (ESV)
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Ephesians 5:15 (ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Acts 20:24 (ESV)
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

What’s your purpose?

Like my friend, we’ve all lived for purposes other than Christ. We’ve chased countless things that have promised to satisfy, but have left us wanting. But the Bible shows us a better, singular way to live.

David said, “One thing have I asked of the Lord… that I may dwell in the house of the Lord… to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4).
When Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet while her sister was busy serving, Jesus gently reminded Martha, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41–42).
And Paul declared his life’s one purpose: “But one thing I do… I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).

So, what’s your life’s purpose? There are many things you can live for, but only one purpose brings lasting joy: knowing and loving Jesus Christ. He’s the one thing we need most of all.

Cara

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P.S. Are you like David, Mary, or Paul in your approach to God’s Word? Do you want to discover how you read the Word, and how to develop a “One Thing” heart in your quiet times? Take this FREE Quiz to find out more.

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