Being Here on Purpose: The Church's Call to Engage a Broken World

In a world marked by brokenness, disconnection, and hopelessness, what role does the church play? How can we, as followers of Christ, make a meaningful impact in the lives of those around us? These questions lie at the heart of our calling to be "here on purpose" – intentionally present and engaged in the places God has put us.

The book of Acts provides a powerful window into what it looks like when the church goes out into the world. In Acts 3, we encounter Peter and John on their way to the temple for prayer. This was an ordinary, everyday occurrence for them. Yet in the midst of their routine, they encountered a man who had been lame from birth, sitting outside the temple gates begging for money.

This man's situation paints a vivid picture of the brokenness that pervades our world. He was not just physically disabled; he was completely disconnected from his community. Religious law forbade him from entering the temple. He couldn't work to support himself. Normal social relationships were out of reach. Day after day, he depended on the charity of others just to survive.

How often do we pass by similar scenes of brokenness in our own lives? Do we notice the coworker struggling with addiction or debt? The neighbor grappling with relational damage? The seemingly successful individual dying inside from the weight of sin? Brokenness takes many forms, often hidden beneath the surface.

The disciples' response to this man offers a powerful model for us. First, they truly saw him. Peter directed his gaze at the man and said, "Look at us." In a world where it's easy to avert our eyes and hurry past need, they chose to engage. They initiated connection.

Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, they offered something far greater than a temporary financial solution. Peter declared, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Taking the man by the hand, Peter helped him up – and immediately, his feet and ankles were healed.

This miraculous healing sparked wonder and amazement among all who witnessed it. More importantly, it led to praise and worship of God. The man entered the temple "walking and leaping and praising God." His physical healing opened the door to spiritual transformation and reconnection with his community.

As we consider our own call to engage the world around us, it's easy to feel inadequate. We might think, "I've never performed a miraculous healing. How can God use me?" But the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that there are varieties of gifts, services, and activities – all empowered by the same Spirit. Some may have gifts of healing, others of wisdom, knowledge, faith, or discernment. The key is not the specific gift, but our willingness to be a conduit for God's grace in a broken world.

We must guard against two common errors in our expectations of how God works. On one hand, we can fall into the trap of only recognizing "big" miraculous movements, missing the small, quiet ways God often chooses to work. On the other hand, we can become cynical about the possibility of powerful divine intervention, limiting God to what fits neatly within our understanding and control.

The beautiful truth is that none of this depends on our own power, knowledge, or ability. It all flows from God moving through us. When we try to engineer solutions in our own strength, we will always fall short. Human solutions to human problems are incomplete. What the world truly needs is a movement of God – the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is why we go out. Not to implement a social program or entertain people, but to offer the hope of complete healing and restoration found only in Jesus. We go out compelled by what we ourselves have seen and experienced of God's grace, forgiveness, and love.

The religious leaders of Peter and John's day tried to silence them, ordering them to stop speaking about Jesus. Their response is one we would do well to emulate: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

As we seek to be "here on purpose," we must root ourselves deeply in the reality of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Our going out must be connected to our going in – inhaling God's presence and exhaling His love to the world around us. We celebrate this reality each time we partake in communion, remembering Christ's sacrifice and the new life He offers.

So, how will we respond to this call? Will we open our eyes to truly see the needs around us? Will we be willing to engage, even when it's uncomfortable? Will we trust in the power of the Holy Spirit working through us, whether in big ways or small?

The world is desperate for hope, healing, and connection. As followers of Christ, we have been entrusted with the most powerful message of transformation the world has ever known. Let us go out with boldness, fueled by God's love, ready to be conduits of His grace in a broken world.

May we be a people who cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard – the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ. For in Him alone do we find the power to bring true healing to our fractured world.