Summer of Significance

“If we really understand what being a Christian means—that this Christ, the living God, actually comes in to rule one’s life—then everything change: values, goals, priorities, desires and habits.” - Charles Colson

Luke 9:23–25 NLT

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”

Matthew 6:33 AMPC

‘But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.’

“The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.” - Leo Tolstoy

Luke 10:38-42 MSG

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

2 Timothy 2:4 NLT

“Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.”

Philippians 1:10 AMPC

So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].’

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 MSG

Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help *others* live well.

“Life ought not to be divided into compartments labeled sacred and secular. Monday can be as significant and sacred as Sunday. Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.” - Martin Luther