What Does the Bible Say About Higher Purpose?

Romans 8:28 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

1 John 3:16-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Matthew 13:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

1 John 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

James 4:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

Colossians 3:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Philippians 3:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Philippians 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Ephesians 5:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” ...

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Romans 13:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 22:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 12:15-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ ...

Luke 12:13-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

Matthew 16:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:19-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! ...

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Proverbs 11:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Psalm 23:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Matthew 25:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

41 Bible Verses about Higher Purpose

Romans 8:28 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:16-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 22:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 12:15-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 12:13-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:19-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 25:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)