What Are You in the World For?

“Our first single glimpse of [Jesus’] interior life must be got without the help of any actual word of His. It is given to us in the gospel accounts of His discovery of His mission. How long the consciousness of mission had been gestating we cannot tell. What books He read, if any, are never named. What ripening influence the days of toil in the carpenter shop may have had, is unnoted. What dawned upon Him as He meditated in silence is not reported. What formative ideas may have come from the little groups of “the quiet ones in the land” can only be guessed at. We are merely told that He increased in wisdom as He advanced in stature, which is the only conceivable way that personality can be attained. Suddenly the moment of clear insight came and He saw what He was in the world for.”

— Rufus M. Jones, 1916
The Inner Life

Today’s Invitation

Write a stream-of-consciousness list of what you think you are “in the world for.” If you are comfortable sharing, ask someone who knows you well what they would add to your list.

Query of the Week

How can spiritual discipline enrich your life?

What areas of spiritual practice would you like to improve on? How can you practice patience with yourself as you move toward your goals incrementally?