Jesus … Single Like Me!

Kris Swiatocho
The Singles Network Ministries
It's Not About Me … It's About Him ... A Life of Purpose!

Buzz, buzz, buzz. There went the alarm again, another day of work, the grind, people to meet, places to be, work to do. I could smell the aroma of sausage being cooked in the kitchen, hmm it smells good.

I hit the alarm to get in a few extra winks. "Get up, get up,” my mom would say. “You'll be late for work." Yeah, yeah, late for work, who cares, just another day."

I was 25 years old and living at home. I had moved back to "find myself" and to pay off some debt. Even though I had received Christ as my Savior in college and spent several years serving him, through one reason or another, I would stop attending church and fall back into poor habits resulting from poor choices. I would end up in debt with no real direction for my life.

However, even though I was at the worse place I had ever been in my life, I knew God had not forgotten me and that he wanted me back, but back for what? I was so embarrassed at some of the choices I had made. From sinful relationships, to how I used my money, to how I had treated my friends to even my relationship with my parents. I had a hard time believing God would want to use me.

It wasn't long before I found a good job as a graphic designer. However, I still wasn't in church so my parents started praying for me to find a Bible-teaching church, one where I could find people my own age. A church that would not only minister to me, but would allow me to serve based on where I was in my walk with God. They prayed that I would find direction with my life, purpose.

Through a customer of mine from work, I found out about a singles ministry called SOLO (Singles Offering Life to Others). SOLO was sponsored by a local church and represented single adults of all ages and backgrounds who may or may not have attended that church. Its purpose was to connect and grow singles adults for Christ. I was so excited to find SOLO and make some new friends. However, it would be months before I truly became a part of the ministry, the team and its purpose. It would take that long to believe God could use me.

One day, a leader told me about their annual conference they were planning and how they were in need of some help. Because they knew I was a graphic designer, they asked me if I would be interested in creating the banner for the conference. I liked the idea of creating something that would be seen by a lot of people. This could be good for design business. It also sort of made me feel valued among this new group of single adults. Then the leader asked me something I wasn't expecting: "Oh, and besides doing the banner, we need you to attend the weekly team meetings that will last for the next eleven months."

"Eleven months and weekly meetings for one banner?" They also told me that I would have homework as they had devotions each week. I could not believe that in order to do this banner I would have to attend a weekly meeting, do a devotion and help plan a conference where I only had one small part. I didn't know it at the time, but everything they were doing was strategic and intentional. Everything they were doing related to God's purpose for my life.

Everything on earth has a purpose; without purpose we would not exist. Because of our human nature, we cannot know our purpose apart from God. Because we did not create ourselves then, we cannot tell what our purpose is.

In Colossians 1:16, Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him.

Jesus Christ had a purpose. He died on the cross to have a relationship with us, so that in turn we would have a relationship with others. Jesus, as a single adult, knew his purpose had nothing to do with his family, his job, his finances, where he lived or his friends. His purpose would be so grand that it would affect all of mankind forever.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world (Eph. 1:11-12).

Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. God's purpose was that we, who were the first to trust in Christ, should praise our glorious God.

As a single adult myself, I know how easy it is to believe finding a spouse, buying a home and having the right job creates our purpose. We know from God's Word that these are only relationships and tools that God gives us in order to work out HIS PURPOSE for our lives. Our purpose is to have a relationship with Christ and then to live out that relationship with others, sharing with them and being a witness.

It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith (Rom. 4:13).

It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.

SOLO and its singles conference would turn out to be more than me designing one banner. They would use this as a way to find common ground with me. To start a relationship that would in turn get me connected into the ministry of Christ. I would serve on this team week after week, praying, studying the Word of God, making new friends and eventually building my relationship with Christ to a level way beyond my imagination. SOLO and its leaders would help me find my purpose, my identity in Christ and direction for my life.

Questions for Discussion or Personal Exploration:

How has your relationship with Christ changed since you became a Christian? What types of things have changed in your life as a result of your relationship with Christ?
What would you like to change about your relationship with Christ?
What direction is your life going?
How have you been able to develop other relationships as a result of your relationship with Christ?
Do you know your purpose?
How much time do you spend with Christ? What do you do with this time? Do you journal, sing songs, use a concordance, etc.?
Read Ephesians 1:1-14 again. What was God's secret plan? What is our purpose again?
Read Romans 4. How are we saved? Application:

Knowing your purpose is to have a relationship with Christ that glorifies him and as a result a relationship with others for his purpose. Now that you know this, what is your next step?





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Kris Swiatocho is the President and Director of TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries and FromHisHands.com Ministries. Kris has served in ministry in various capacities for the last 20 years. An accomplished trainer and mentor, Kris has a heart to reach and grow leaders so they will in turn reach and grow others. She is currently working on her third Bible study, From the Manger to the Cross: The Men in Jesus' Life.

Her second Bible study, From the Manger to the Cross: The Women in Jesus' Life, was published last fall and is available on her websites. Her first book, Singles and Relationships: A 31-Day Experiment, was co-authored with Dick Purnell of Single Life Resources.

TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries helps churches, pastors and single adult leaders evaluate, develop and support their single adult ministries through high-energy speaking engagements, results-oriented consulting and training and leadership development conferences and seminars. Click here to request a FREE "How to Start a Single Adult Ministry" guide.


FromHisHands.com Ministries is Kris's speaking ministry. If you've ever heard her speak, you know that Kris is the kind of speaker who keeps the crowd captivated, shares great information and motivates people to make a difference in the lives of those around them! She speaks to all church audiences on everything from "first impression" ministry to women's topics to singles and young adults. She can speak on a Sunday morning, at a woman's retreat or for a single adults conference. Bring Kris to your church today!

Singles and Relationships by Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell
Many singles are Christians who wonder if God will ever bring a mate their way or if they should just stop focusing on a future with a marriage partner and live the single life to the fullest. Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell offer solid biblical answers for singles in this newest title in Dick's popular 31-Day Experiment Bible study.




Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/singles/11580436/