The MITs, 10/23/11

Why are you here? There are pleny of other people in the world already; why did God bother to make you? That is your mission. Ecc. 12:13 says that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his commandments. How will this work out in life?

Law may be understood as particular rules, but ethics deals with the concepts behind the rules. Through ethics we learn what to do about things that the law doesn't mention.

In addition to ethics, though, we have to develop values, that is, the ability to rank various good things and to hold them in their proper balance. Helping someone in an emergency is more important than being on time for prayer meeting. However, values may sometimes differ from person to person: one person may value studying while another believes it to be pointless.

To understand your specific mission in life, it will be necessary to follow God's rules, learn biblical ethics, and develop mature values. Additionally, God's particular purpose for your life will emerge in response to the practice of biblical spirituality. Eph. 5:8, 10 tells us to walk as children of light, learning and doing what is acceptable to the Lord.