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Scripture for the day: John 15:9-10 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
Thought for the day: Yesterday we talked for a bit about the need we all have to live a purposeful life. Let’s be honest, at the end of the day, every one of us wants to lay our head down on our pillow believing we’ve been true to the purpose for which we were created; that we made a difference in the life of at least one other person. There is no necessity that we accomplish some news-worthy feat make some great breakthrough in medicine. We don’t need to be in the lime-light, ever, but it is important that we live a life of meaning. And how do we go about making sure our lives do have meaning? Let me suggest a few ways.
First, L-ove brings meaning to life. John said in one of his letters to the churches, “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). Mankind has echoed this sentiment down through the ages, the sacred and the secular alike. The importance of receiving and giving love cannot be over-emphasized. The Peter and Gordon stated firmly “I don’t care what they say, I won’t live in a world without love.” John Lennon and Paul McCartney told us over and over (all in one song) “All you need is love.”
Whether we are Christian or not, we all recognize the deep need of love being expressed in some aspect of our lives. Without it, there simply is no purpose. The more love we give, the more we have room for. When we express the love of God for those around us, we begin to realize the value of becoming His vessel as He reaches through us to others with compassion, understanding, or even a helping hand. John said again, in his letters to the churches, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1 John 3:14). Then he goes on to remind his readers: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Do you want to live a life of purpose, of meaning? Let your love be expressed in what you do and how you treat others.
Second, I-nvolvement brings meaning to life. John 15:5 tells us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Hobbies are great things; they can bring a sense of fulfillment when we’ve accomplished something concrete. But they only can fulfill our lives to a point. They can even become a burden when we allow what is supposed to be a pastime to become a primary focus. Better is the work instigated by God, done for Him, and done to glorify Him. Church activities, prayer, sharing Christ with others; these things aren’t flashy, but they are incredibly meaningful if done for the right purposes.
Let me ask you something; who designed and built the Empire State Building? How about the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, or the Arche de Triumphe? All these are flashy, but who remembers the names associated with their construction? Oh, we can look them up on the Net, but who will remember the answers a year from now? No one, is my guess. On the other hand, the smallest kindness, the tiniest effort, the least noticeable endeavor, when done for the glory of God, can, and often does, make an eternal difference. All of creation will celebrate what’s done for Christ.
Becoming involved in what God is up to will provide meaning and purpose to the dullest of lives, mine included. More on purpose tomorrow. In the meantime,
Go take on your world. - Bill