May 10

The sinful who have never, or rarely, been exposed to the truths of God, have very little concept of how depraved they really are. “Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.....They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots” (Psalm 36:1-4). Their conscience has been seared and they know nothing different. When people turn away from God, they are corrupt and their actions are evil (Psalm 53:1,3). We can pity them, ignore them, and thank God we are not like one of them (remember the unrepentant Pharisee in Luke 18:10-12?). Or, we can demonstrate by the way we live, the joy and peace that comes from following God. IF they saw more of a contrast between what we have and what they don’t have, maybe they would be more interested in the God we serve. Maybe, one of the reasons they aren’t attracted to the Jesus they observe in us is because they really aren’t seeing much of Jesus in us. Jesus said that if we lift him up in the way we live, if we show the world Jesus in our lives, he would draw the unsaved world unto himself (John 12:32).
Living my life for Jesus is not just about the eternity I can have because of the salvation Jesus brings me. Neither is living my life for Jesus just about the abundant life I can experience in the here and now because of the wisdom Jesus brings me. If my life is going to count for any-thing, then living for Jesus is also important because doing so attracts other to the Jesus I know. That is the ultimate purpose of our lives. That is a meaning beyond anything we will ever do for ourselves. Those who “trust in the Lord and do good will live safely in the land and prosper.” Those who, “take delight in the Lord” will find the Lord giving them, “your heart’s desires.” “Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land” (Psalm 37:3-6,9). “For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly” (37:17). So, what are you doing with your life these days? Are you making any kind of impact in the lives of others? The only way to do so is by following the example of Jesus (John 13:15). Are you?