Significance or Sameness

Do you ever look around at your life and wonder why God still has you in the place that you are?  Whether it be with work, relationship status, or ministry, we can find ourselves looking around asking, “ok, now what?”  When we look around and compare ourselves to everyone else, we see people changing jobs, getting married, and deciding to move to Africa, but we just seem to be called to stay on the same path and keep on going.

What God has called you to do and the ways you serve out your purpose on this earth do not have to look like anyone else’s.  In fact, significance and sameness do not often coexist.  Your faithfulness to remain and be led by the Holy Spirit in your workplace may be far more impactful in the lives of those around you than running off to the next big thing.

What may look like a time of stale drudgery from the outside could be the work of God to mold and shape you into the beautiful creation that He has made you to be and prepare you for things to come.

Ephesians 2:10- For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

As Andrea discussed in Sunday’s lesson, both Paul and Moses experienced times where absolutely nothing changed (Mo in the wilderness, and Paul in Arabia) but God was doing a great work in their lives and honing their skills for even greater impact and significance.

We are also daily being discipled by the world regarding how we should spend our time, talent, and treasure.  Our culture both yells and whispers what we should value, work for, and prioritize.  But the world has a completely different trajectory in mind for us than God does.  (There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death (Prov. 14:12).  Instead of listening to the constant barrage of suggestions from the world, what kind of an impact could we make for the kingdom and the flourishing of everyone around us if we tried something different?  What if we listened to the Word of God instead of trying to be like everyone else?  Could we perhaps live lives of eternal significance?  We have a choice before us each day, are we going to choose significance or sameness?

Romans 12:2- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Challenge for the Week:

At the end of this week, ask yourself 3 questions (courtesy of Andrea Kim):

1. What kingdom impact did the Lord do THROUGH me this week?

2. What kingdom impact did the Lord make ON ME this week?

3. Am I closer to Jesus than I was last week?

-Renee Moreland