Key Takeaway
God gives us passions, but we’re called to pursue them with excellence, stay anchored to the why behind the what, and live distinctly. The greater purpose of our lives, to know Him and make Him known, is the root from which all our passions grow.
God's will for our lives is to know Jesus and make Him known. He didn't design you to do a job, He designed you to know Him. Everything else, your job, your passions, your place in life, flows from that foundation.
Knowing Jesus Is Your Purpose
God didn’t design you first for a position but for a Person. His plan for your life begins and ends with knowing Him. When you make it your aim to know Jesus, the natural overflow is that others around you come to know Him too. This is the heartbeat of your purpose.
But God also gives us passions—the things that make us come alive, the skills and dreams that stir our hearts. These aren’t separate from your purpose; they fit within it. When your greatest goal is to know Jesus and make Him known, where you live or what you do becomes secondary to how you do it: with Him, for Him, and through Him.
Passion That Serves Purpose
God designed you uniquely to reflect His creativity in the world. Yet, our passions must always serve the greater purpose of knowing and making Him known. Paul reminds us of this in Colossians 3:17.
Excellence should be our standard, not for our own acclaim, but as a reflection of the One we serve.
Excellence and Distinction
Daniel is a model of this kind of life. Taken captive into Babylon, he didn’t choose his circumstances, but he chose how to live within them. Scripture says in Daniel 6:3 that he “distinguished himself… because of his exceptional qualities.” Daniel rose in influence not just because he believed in God, but because his work reflected the excellence and integrity of God.
When opposition came, his life was so marked by faithfulness that his enemies could find no fault in him, except his devotion to God.
That’s the kind of distinction believers are called to: to live and work in a way that stands apart. We do this not through loud declarations, but through quiet consistency, integrity, and excellence.
Living With a Greater Why
What you do matters less than why you do it. When your work and your passions are rooted in knowing Jesus, your life will speak for itself. People may try to discredit or oppose you, but the testimony of your character and the fruit of your faith will stand firm.
So live distinct. Work with excellence. Pursue your passion—but let it always serve the greater purpose of knowing Jesus and making Him known.
Discussion Questions
What is your passion? And what in your life or story has informed it?
How does understanding that God designed you to know Jesus and make Him known change the way you think about your career, dreams, or current season of life?
4. Daniel stood out in a godless culture through his integrity and faithfulness. What might it look like for you to live with that same kind of distinction in your own environment?
5. When life feels ordinary or unseen, how can remembering that God is your ultimate evaluator (Colossians 3:23–24) bring joy and purpose to your everyday work?
1. What do you feel is bringing meaning to your life right now?
