For this purpose...

I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.
~John 1:31 ESV

Today's verse is what John the Baptist said when he first saw Jesus. After years of preaching, living in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey, and baptizing multitudes, he said of his ministry and life, "the whole purpose of all of it was that he- Jesus- might be revealed to Israel." This, then, was the sum total of what John's life was about- revealing Jesus.

The apostle Paul had the same passion. In his letter to the Philippians, writing to them from prison, he said, "It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Paul's eager expectation and hope, the thrust of his ministry and the goal of his life, was that "Christ would be honored" in his body. Whether it meant life or death was irrelevant; all he cared about was that Christ would be put on display as supremely glorious and supremely valuable.

This passion is not supposed to be restricted to the superspiritual few, the apostles and prophets. It is a calling given to every child of God, to live his or her life in such a way that Jesus would be revealed and honored. You might not be baptizing multitudes, and you may not be in prison for your faith. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, our eager desire should be to say with Paul and John, "For this purpose I go to work every day, that Jesus might be revealed to my coworkers." "For this purpose I go to class every day, that Jesus might be revealed to my classmates and teachers." "For this purpose I devote myself to love and serve the needy, that Jesus might be revealed to my community." Is Jesus revealed in your life?

Holy Spirit, Give me the passion that Paul had, the passion that John had, the passion that You have, to magnify Jesus Christ to all the nations. Fill me with the desire and ability to reveal Him in my workplace, in my home, among my friends, at church, in my community, and around the world. Jesus, be glorified, and reveal Yourself through me.