Monday, July 10, 2023
Are you making the most out of your life?
This weekend Pastor Josh Whitlow wrapped up our series Sounds of Summer with an enthusiastic teaching on making the most out of our lives here on earth. The song “I Lived” by OneRepublic was the foundation for his message. Generally, we believe that in order to make the most of our lives, we only think about our lives in the present. But this is in direct opposition to what Jesus teaches.
Matthew 6:33
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
This verse is part of Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. It clearly states that we are to seek God’s Kingdom first and foremost because it is greater than all of the world’s riches.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
The Apostle Paul wrote this verse to explain why he never lost faith in Christ even though he suffered for it. He was able to focus on the glories of the Kingdom of Heaven by keeping his inner focus on what is eternal. We will live our best lives if we follow Paul’s example.
As Christ followers, we are all called to full-time ministry no matter where we work. It is not necessary to be gainfully employed at a church to build God’s Kingdom. It is also not necessary to do mission work in a faraway place. We all are called to use our gifts to make a difference where we are. The church needs each of us to step into our purpose and serve “The Cause of Christ” to achieve the greatest impact on eternity!
Pastor Josh taught us that if we want to make the most out of our lives, we need to prioritize the following things, which we will be unpacking over the next few days:
- Join God’s Mission. God calls us to be all in. We need to be connected in community with fellow Christ followers.
- Share God’s Message. We are to share the Good News of what Jesus did on the cross.
- Check Your Motivation. Be passionate about knowing God. Make loving and serving him your goal.
Colossians 3:1-4
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
Questions:
Are you making the most out of your life? Are you most concerned about the things of earth or heaven? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 13:8 Revelation 21:27)?
Next Steps:
Once a year on ServeDay, we flood our communities with simple acts of service to show people that they matter to God, and they matter to us. Join us on July 22 for our biggest make a difference day of the year!
Prayer:
Dear Almighty Father, thank you for the promise and gift of eternal life through my Savior, your Son, Jesus Christ! Help me to keep my eyes focused on the glories of heaven that will last forever. Open my eyes so I may see that my best life is lived when I join your mission and share your message. Thank you for your mercies that are new every morning. I love you and serve you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ecclesiastes 9:17
Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.