Luke 7:30 
But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. (NIV)

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism. (NLT)

(T)he Pharisees and religious officials would have nothing to do with such a baptism, wouldn’t think of giving up their place in line to their inferiors. (MSG)

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Here’s a line that probably gets your attention. “But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves.”

God’s purpose is the highest purpose. 

God’s purpose is the best purpose. 

Its purpose is the most rewarding purpose. 

God’s purpose endures forever. 

So, to review, the Pharisees and religious officials rejected the highest purpose for their lives, the best purpose imaginable, the most rewarding purpose they could live, and the one and only purpose that endures forever. 

This may sound like a problem. It is. 

Pharisees and the experts in the law were supposed to know the truth. They were to pass along the truth to others. And yet they refused to embrace Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

Here we are a couple thousand years later, tut-tutting these people who should have known better. We, including I, have probably all done the same thing in one way or another, haven’t we? There have been occasions when you and I have chosen our way instead of God’s way. 

What if we kept a record today of the times we chose our way instead of God’s? 

What if we pondered why we made those decisions? 

What if we used those realizations as prayers of repentance? 

What if we planned now for what we will do differently the next time this kind of decision comes up? 

In other words, what if we accepted God’s purpose for our lives? 

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I will choose God’s purpose for my life, knowing that it is superior to any other decision I could make.

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Our Father, you are smarter, better, and faster than any of us. Your will is perfect. Your plans are superior. The outcomes you produce are many times better than anything I’ve ever settled for in the past. I want what you want for me. I want to live the purpose you created me for. I want to trust you enough to do whatever you ask in every moment. And when I inevitably fail, I will come back to you and agree with you that your way was the better way, and that next time I will choose your will, your way. Amen.