Day 3: Friday

          

            Jesus asked, "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?  Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?  (Mark 8:36)

             Do you ever wonder about the deeper purpose or meaning of your life? 

            Every once in a while, it’s important to consider what God might want to do in you and through you.  Wouldn’t it be tragic to climb the ladder of success, only to realize when you reached the top rung of that ladder that it was leaned up against the wrong wall?
           
             On Ash Wednesday we considered the question, “What are you looking for?”  As a pastor, I’ve found that many people are looking for stability, success, relationships, health, and many other things that are common to so many of us.  But I’ve also found that down deep, people are looking for a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.

            Most people live their lives on one of three levels.  The first level might be called Survival.  In the survival mode you go to work, punch the clock, put in your time, and live for the weekend.  People survive on this level, and they wake up in the morning and instead of saying, “Good morning, Lord”, they say, “Good Lord, it’s morning.”

            A second level people live on is the level of Success.  They work hard at succeeding at work, at home, or at school, but also live with the constant fear of failure, and with the nagging fear that no amount of success will ever be enough to be deeply satisfying. 

            But a third level that some people live on is the level of Significance.  Living with significance is knowing that you’re doing exactly what God put on this earth to do, and that you’re making a significant contribution with your life in the lives of those around you.  The level of significance means that you’re comfortable with who you are and what you were put on this earth to do.
           
          Remember this:  You are not the result of a random genetic mutation that eventually evolved over time.  You are a child of the Most High God, who knit you together in your mother’s womb.  You are a child of God who belongs to God and who was put on this earth for a life of significance.

            Jesus said to his disciples, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?  Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?”

            Success is great.  But success can also be fleeting if you begin to forfeit your life in the pursuit of success.  True significance comes from giving all that you are and all that you have to the care of Jesus, who loves you and wants you to grow into knowing Him more and more, day after day.

Questions to Ponder

•  Which “level” of life do you find yourself most frequently; the level of survival, success, or significance? 
• Are you satisfied with that level?  What is holding you back from “moving” toward a more satisfactory and significant life and faith?  What would it take to get you there?

Prayer for Today:  Gracious God, I know that you created me and all that exists, and that you have given me all things that are necessary for life.  Help me to be thankful.  Help me to use my gifts in service toward others.  Help me want to know you more and more, day after day.  This I ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

It's amazing how Great God is.  And what's so great is that God cares so much about us.  What could be greater than knowing God more during this transformative personal journey?