Communities represent a group of people that have shared locations or common goals. All of us are hard-wired to foster these connections. God created us with an innate desire for social interaction (Genesis 2:18). The truth is no one is an island. Sooner or later, we all need to lean on our tribe. Investing in those people is essential for improving the community and ourselves. How can we otherwise receive and share God’s love (John 13:34-35)? 

Finding the proper balance of sowing and reaping is essential (Galatians 6:7-9). If all we do is give of our time, energy, and efforts, we eventually face burnout. No one can sustain that without finding nourishment in God and His people (Matthew 4:4). If all we do is receive from others, we will not discover the joy and satisfaction of sharing our gifts, talents, and resources (Acts 20:35). Your local Church is ideal for meeting with like-minded believers and experiencing this beautiful dynamic first-hand.

In God’s eyes, you bring something significant to the table. Share it with the world!

God designed us with unique gifts and talents (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). We all bring something to the table that God wants us to use to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we love, serve, and edify one another, we empower each other to do God’s work more effectively (1 Thessalonians 5:11; John 13:34-35). Doing this also positions us better to help those beyond our Church. 

For example, a Bible study group at Church may encourage us to reach out to a non-believer and share God’s Word (Mark 16:15). Alternatively, we may feel compelled by other believers to participate in a volunteer opportunity that feeds, clothes, and shelters, or provides supplies for the less fortunate (Matthew 25:40). Even if you were motivated to work on this task alone, it would be challenging to be as efficient or effective as a team unified to accomplish the same goal.

Our sanctification blossoms when fellowship opportunities abound!

Serving each other allows us to grow in Christ-likeness. We might acquire Biblical insight alone, but what good does it do if we don’t put it in motion? What good does it serve to capture knowledge without exercising the wisdom it should inspire? The Church opens the door for us to do so in various ways.

For instance, we might offer a loved one a listening ear and empathy for them to come to a sound conclusion (Proverbs 19:20-21). We can provide counsel that speaks to a situation they are going through (Proverbs 11:14). Your friend may be struggling with a challenge in their spiritual journey, relationship, career, or another area of life and could use your support in making a well-informed decision. Since we are outside the problem, our objective perspective often offers a worthwhile outlook. Having been on both sides of this equation, I can attest to the immense benefits of forming alliances with our Church family.

Encouraging forgiveness among church members is likewise crucial (Matthew 18:21-22). Churches must promote this value to strengthen relationships and foster community. The reality is our human nature leads even the best of us to fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). No matter what congregation you visit. You will encounter imperfect people. Eventually, someone will let you down, and it is likely only a matter of time before you do the same. We can honor God by forgiving others as He forgives us (Matthew 6:14-15).

The self-awareness of knowing our flaws should provide ample motivation to forgive others. Sometimes it may be challenging and take a substantial amount of time to pardon an offense. But we should streamline this process because harboring unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, or anger serves no one. An attitude like this hinders our progress and derails us from moving forward in peace (Romans 12:18).

In severe cases, it’s possible that forgiving someone is what God wants for you, but that doesn’t imply you should expose yourself to the same kind of hurt again. However, we should avoid cutting ties prematurely. All of us are susceptible to wronging others. One day it will be our turn to request a similar pardon for our mistakes. If God has forgiven the unforgivable in us, we need to demonstrate our love and patience in forgiving others (1 Peter 4:8, Mark 11:25).

Our success depends on mutual reliance.

Recognizing our weaknesses and exercising humility is essential to navigating life in God’s way (1 Peter 1:24-25). It is a difficult task for those who have yet to experience life’s most tremendous hardships. They might find themselves oblivious to our frailty until they must endure it first-hand. However, acknowledging that we need each other provides an antidote to our pride (James 4:6; Ecclesiastes 4:10). How else would we understand true resilience comes from God’s providence rather than human effort (Joshua 1:9)?

Understanding human fragility provides a compelling reason to comfort those undergoing extraordinary challenges. It also puts us in a position to accept prayer, help, and other support when needed. Whether God offers us support by supernatural means or through our community is His call. Either way, we should keep sight of the fact that He is sovereign, and we must submit to His will (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 12:2).

There is beauty in helping without keeping score.

We should refrain from offering our help with the expectation of anything in return. Exercising generosity for human recognition may detract from the eternal significance of what we do (Matthew 6:1-2). Avoiding expectation also absolves us from keeping tabs and developing a form of social obligation. Instead, we can offer support when it is within our power without further expectation (Luke 6:35-36). Trust God to surround you with help when you need it most (Psalm 46:1). Rest assured that God is more than capable of resolving all your problems (Psalm 50:14-15). Finally, we must be patient in our endurance (Hebrews 10:35-37).

There is no need to worry that He will not provide for your essentials when He even assures us the birds of the air get fed (Matthew 6:26-27). How much more will He help you? Remember, God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27)! Human beings are the crown jewel of His creation. So take comfort that you matter to God more than you can comprehend. Without Him, we cannot accomplish anything of eternal significance, but with Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors ( John 15:55; Romans 8:31-37).

Even when adversity comes knocking at our front door, we remain confident that God will help us to persevere over any storm life might throw in our direction. Over time we come to the realization that God never lets us down. On the contrary, He has a perfect track record that showcases a level of love beyond our capacity to fathom with our finite minds.

Who better to trust with everything than the One who knows us better than we know ourselves? After all, He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). Add to these realities that God has His children’s best interests at heart in light of eternity. It should be intuitive at this point for us to realize that there is no one better in the universe to rest our faith and surrender our fears and anxieties. As such, we must rest assured that He always faithfully protects and guides us in the direction that best suits His perfect will and our well-being.

Another advantage of placing our complete faith in God is experiencing His peace. Sometimes we attempt to take things into our hands rather than pray for God’s help. These are not mutually exclusive endeavors. In many cases, praying and taking action would be wise. However, we overestimate our influence on our immediate circumstances and underestimate the power of prayer. Sometimes the best course of action is to surrender something outside our control to God in prayer and rest in His sovereignty (John 16:33). When the situation calls for it, this demonstrates our faith in God to handle our problem. Furthermore, we welcome His peace to offer us the antidote to our burdensome worries (Philippians 4:6, Romans 5:1).

As believers, God has created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). Each of us is an ambassador of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are also friends of God rather than at enmity with Him when we walk in obedience to His Word (John 15:15)! Our ultimate purpose is to bring God glory (1 Corinthians 6:20, Isaiah 43:7). The execution of fulfilling our calling varies from person to person. Still, all believers are a part of His plans for us as we are members of the body of believers serving different roles that complement one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). When we have faith in these elements of our foundation and purpose, it should boost our confidence and develop our courage.

The Bible provides a steady supply of strength that reminds us of God’s faithfulness and love in the lives of believers before us. Knowing that flawed men and women, just like you and I, were used by God for the fulfillment of monumental achievements in the eyes of God should increase our faith and eliminate our worries. For example, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob parted the Red Sea to save His people under the leadership of Moses (Exodus 14:26-29), protected Daniel from being devoured in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:23), and delivered Shadrack, Meschac, and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19-25). So likewise, God is with His children today as with our ancestors (Romans 8:31-39).

If we reflect on our lives, we can refer to God’s consistent protection, provision, and providence to remember his unfailing reliability (Philippians 4:19). Do not forget the numerous times you, your family, or friends prayed, and God was faithful. It may not have always agreed with our perspective or timing, but often we are privileged to take notice that His timing was infinitely superior anyway (1 John 5:14-15). After all, it would be a tragedy if God gave us a blessing that we were not yet prepared to receive due to a lack of character development, preparedness, or appreciation.

Instead, He lovingly defers those blessings to the correct time after we have learned to handle them and experienced the contrast of not having them so that we might rightfully understand how outstanding the opportunity truly is (Proverbs 13:12). If we are honest with ourselves, some of God’s most excellent answers to prayer are those He lovingly does not provide for us because He knows what we need better than we do. In those cases, we should aspire to be equally thankful even when we do not understand why the door closed unexpectedly, and things did not pan out in the direction we foresaw.

The final aspect of faithfulness that carries one of the most remarkable benefits to all of us is God’s gift of community with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11). God has given each of us a consistent desire to pursue fellowship with like-minded believers. As a result, not only do we receive benefits such as encouragement, accountability, and support from such circles, but we are also enabled to invest our time, energy, and effort in being there for others.

There may be seasons where we require one end more than another, but in their time, we all need to lean on one another the way God designed it to be. When we share our struggles, others can relate, offer advice, or pray for us. Likewise, we can share testimonies in our lives where God came through for us, and God’s answers to our prayers can strengthen the faith of our Christian peers (2 Timothy 1:8). Such actions can alleviate our fears and anxieties by focusing on God’s work rather than overthinking, which may lead to fear or anxiety.

Some worries and concerns should not be on our radar because they are far less of an issue than we make them out to be and often do not even materialize (Matthew 6:31-34). Instead of spending time in our heads about such circumstances, we are often better suited to pouring into the lives of others. Focusing outside ourselves and being there for other believers may be just what the doctor ordered to offer us a renewed perspective.

May God bless each of us with a desire to pursue Him and His will wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13). Let us not allow the whims of fear or anxiety dictate our actions in life. Instead, let us build one another up in faith, knowing that God will never abandon or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can trust Him to be there when life throws us more than we can handle. Submit your cares and worries to Him, rest in His sovereignty, and pursue the calling He instills in your heart to answer (1 Peter 5:7). There is no better place to be than at the center of God’s will for your life.

We should often remind ourselves to thank God for everything, from the smallest of material blessings to the largest of spiritual ones (1 Corinthians 15:57). We should keep a firm grasp on the fact that with Jesus Christ, we have all we need (Romans 11:36). Additionally, we can still appreciate the alternative blessings that He lavishes upon us. Refrain from letting the allure of the world captivate you into thinking that it is exclusively fame, money, power, influence, or materialism that will provide happiness (Romans 12:2).

If we play the comparison game, we will always find that we do not stack up on some level, which breeds envy, jealousy, and discontentment (Ecclesiastes 4:4, James 4:2-3). Instead, we must remember that our value stems from our identity as God’s children (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27). Additionally, He saw it fit to bless you with eyesight, internet access, shelter, and leisure time to learn about God and His Word. If you are alive and reading this, it is clear you are among the most blessed people on earth!

Hopefully, you already know Jesus Christ, but if you are not yet a believer, God has inspired you to read this article. Perhaps He prompted your heart and sparked a curiosity that led you to visit this page today. Do not chalk this up to mere coincidence. Today is the day of salvation, and there is no better time than the present to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you have not already done so (2 Corinthians 6:2). None of us should take for granted every day of mercy that God patiently provides for more people to come to saving faith through His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

When I struggle through a difficult time, feel disappointed, frustrated, or otherwise find myself in a negative state of mind, I try to remember how fortunate I am. We live in an era of human history where most people live under better circumstances than the royalty of prior centuries. Yet, surprisingly, many of our most significant obstacles are often manufactured by excess indulgences, luxuries, instant gratification, and comfort. Therefore, we need to exercise discipline and self-control to avoid being consumed by these seductive pitfalls. Some things are a blessing as long as we practice moderation, but the minute we overdo it, those same blessings can become a problem (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

For instance, we can enjoy eating to some degree. Still, the moment we step into gluttony, we know we do more harm than good (Ezekiel 16:49, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 28:7). It is reasonable to seek a life partner one day that we may eventually marry. Still, if we obsess about a specific person or idolize the gift of marriage, we set ourselves up for a rude awakening. Any time we attempt to substitute the longings in our hearts to worship and draw closer to God with anything else, we will not find lasting joy or satisfaction.

Notice that both of these examples can be blessings from God if they are done His way, in His timing, to the extent He desires for us (1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 18:22, Genesis 2:18). However, we must be aware that even intrinsically good things can be detrimental to us. It is the Creator that we must worship, not His creation. The appetites of the flesh, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are insatiable. We must not cater to them, for they have the potential to consume us (1 John 2:16, Romans 6:23). Limited and finite things, even other human beings, cannot fill the void that only an unlimited, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God can (Psalm 16:11).

I encourage you to reflect and take inventory today about what you are thankful for and whether God remains your primary focus. As long as we keep our eyes on our Savior and immerse ourselves in His will, we will find that we will run the race of this life with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). He gives us all we need to press forward and enjoy the journey (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, do not put yourself in a position where you look back on this life and fail to maximize the time for His glory (Ephesians 5:15-18, 1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s will for you is to immerse yourself in His purpose in light of His calling upon your life (Romans 8:28). Anything less is not living up to His will for you. Delight in God and derive satisfaction from fulfilling that mission (Psalm 37:4-7). It is only a matter of time before we reach the finish line on this side of Heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (2 Timothy 4:7).

Elements of discomfort often form a basis for substantial progress in life. Have you ever examined the biographies of people who led successful lives? It particularly rings true for those who generated eternal value through serving God. They often share remarkably uncomfortable anecdotes of pasts riddled with struggles. Yet, instead of allowing such obstacles to derail their lives, they eventually persevered amid adversity with God’s provision (Philippians 4:13). Their difficulties appeared insurmountable. Still, God saw it fit to help them conquer the giants in their lives (1 Samuel 17:50-51). Some Biblical examples include the likes of King David, Job, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul, to name a few of my favorites.

All the glory related to resolving such situations points towards the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The only One who can make what is impossible in the sight of man possible despite all the odds firmly against it (Matthew 19:26). Furthermore, He can take what is meant for evil by our adversary and turn it around for good in ways we do not see coming. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, but God had a greater plan despite his hardship (Genesis 50:20). A whale swallowed Jonah. However, God decided his story was far from over (Jonah 2:10). The Israelites wandered the wilderness for roughly forty years (Joshua 5:6), but God provided for them in their distress and never abandoned them (Exodus 16:12). God’s people, including you and I, are often strategically placed in situations designed to lead us back to Him. Whether we understand it or not, we must concede to God’s will. Trust that His plans are infinitely superior to ours (Romans 8:28). If we faithfully surrender to His will above ours, it is only a matter of time before we reap the fruit of obedience (John 15:7-9).

The rigors of our unpredictable lives also form the contrast by which we can measure our numerous blessings. For instance, maybe you lost your job, struggled to find a new path forward for several months, and got dangerously close to burning through your entire emergency fund. Then, suddenly, God opens the door to that new employer, and you recover financially through that fresh opportunity. If this happened in my life, my gratitude for employment would be significantly greater than if everything had gone smoothly from the beginning (James 1:2-4). The newfound appreciation for a new workplace, and God’s role in finding me that unique position, would make me look at the same circumstances in an altogether different light (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Excess comfort can also breed laziness and complacency. If everything comes easy to us without a battle, we will fail to appreciate the magnitude of our blessing. No wonder those who become suddenly wealthy from such avenues as lottery winnings or inheritances often squander them (Luke 15:13-14). When someone lacks experience dealing with that wealth level and does not respect the degree of effort required to build it, the story, unfortunately, writes itself. Such situations require a great deal of prayer and wisdom if one is to be a good steward of such monetary responsibilities in the sight of God (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Finally, for better or worse, discomfort can push us forward to our goals at an accelerated pace. It may also serve as a reminder of the urgency to do God’s work compared to circumstances that may not frequently highlight the scarcity of time. When we operate as if we have all the time in the world, we will not evangelize, disciple, or generally serve God with the same zeal (Romans 13:11). Alternatively, we would if we consistently recognized how fleeting life is (James 4:14).

God often reminds us of individual limitations through the reality of uncomfortable situations tied to extraordinary challenges. Thus we must turn to Him for help, and that continuous reliance will quickly eliminate any fable of self-perceived invincibility we may feel inclined to entertain (Psalm 39:4-6). Instead, humbly seeking God and submitting to His guidance is crucial. It will provide the ideal outcome for us with eternity in mind (James 4:6). Ultimately, many comforts and luxuries can be indulged in moderation when we know our priorities are in order (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).

If we stand firm and resist temptation instead, it is only a matter of time before we experience the relief of not having yielded to what we know is so harmful (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:9). We should never compromise our standing with God for the sake of a few minutes of perceived pleasure in any sin. When we avoid sin, we can rest assured that we are abiding in God and relying on Him for the strength to persevere over our iniquity (John 15:1-8). Unfortunately, you and I have a limited amount of willpower. There is only so much self-control we can exert by ourselves. We compromise once it runs out, especially when our weaknesses trigger us. Some potential stumbling blocks include hunger, tiredness, frustration, loneliness, sadness, or other negative states of mind and emotions that could suddenly cause us to give way to our sinful nature (Galatians 5:17). 

However, when we rely on God, He provides us with all the tools we need to crucify our flesh and abstain from sin (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:13). While this sacrifice may seem extremely hard to make at times, it will be an incalculable upgrade compared to the pit of despair and regret that a lost battle brings with it (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we must thank God because even when we fail, His grace and mercy meet us at our lowest points to gently restore us and help us get back on the road to repentance as soon as possible (Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 30:9).

The fruit of sacrifice is more of a blessing than any of us can quantify when it comes to avoiding sin. Obeying God’s Word will always be superior to giving in to the fool’s gold the devil uses to attempt to allure us. With all that said, there are many other areas where sacrifice can offer eternal rewards in Heaven and temporal ones on earth too. It’s not always easy to commit to serving God with your gifts, talents, time, and resources. But if we believe God at His Word, we know that the eternal impact of honoring Him with these things will always outweigh the measure of sacrifice related to doing so. In other words, our eternal return on investment will be greater than any of us can imagine (Matthew 19:29). We need to take steps towards God’s will in complete faith and surrender to make this a reality. We cannot please God without faith, and often that will be the exact fuel needed to initiate action for the sake of God’s glory (Hebrews 11:6).

Instead of serving ourselves and making choices based on personal advantage, it is critical to live for God and help others in the process (Philippians 2:3). If we truly love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, wouldn’t it also make sense for us to love the people He created (Matthew 22:36-40)? How can we claim to love God if we hate the people who He made in His image (Genesis 1:27)? I recognize that there are times in this world when we need to love ourselves and pursue things like rest, self-care, and leisure activities. However, such actions are not mutually exclusive with loving God and people. The Bible instructs us to love people as we would love ourselves.

At least one plausible reason exists to explain why God’s Word doesn’t ask us to love others more than ourselves. What good will you or I do if we neglect self-care to the point where we burn out? We need to familiarize ourselves with our limitations regarding stress tolerance and ability. It is also helpful to draw clear boundaries with family, friends, and even strangers that we should ensure are respected. If you over-exert and sideline yourself, you won’t be able to optimize serving God and maintaining your wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually. Typically we don’t drive our cars without following the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance. Why would it be any different with serving God? According to His example in Genesis, he wants us to rest at least one day per week, as He chose to do after creation (Genesis 2:2-3). It follows that He also wants us to pray. Otherwise, why would Jesus Christ have prayed to the Father (John 17:1-26)?

Ultimately, it is vital to make sacrifices within the scope of your capacity for God’s glory. Under these circumstances, it can be an opportunity for us to do our part as believers. There is no replacement for answering God’s call to walk in your purpose and abide in Him. In walking the path God has laid before each of us, we will experience difficulty, trouble, and sometimes even severe trials (John 16:33). However, He will always be with us when we need Him most. God will help us to navigate through the times when we have nothing left but to put our trust in Him. Furthermore, there is an indescribable sense of peace, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction only God can provide His children (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 94:19). When you and I step out in faith and make sacrifices for Him, God allows us to experience all of these blessings throughout our lives.

May we bring God glory by fully committing our works to Him. After all, our ultimate purpose is to bring God glory (1 Peter 4:7-11). You and I can do this by fearing Him and obeying His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). When we position ourselves to make this our daily practice, we will find true satisfaction, and rest assured we delight Him in the process (Psalm 112:1).

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” – John Piper.

Repentance, in consideration of sinful behavior, signifies a turning away from such endeavors. It involves eliminating the evil in our lives and pursuing righteousness and holiness in God’s sight instead. We must consider this remains a moving target for us as Christians throughout our lives. It is not a destination that is arrived on this side of eternity. There is always room for us to improve. No matter what you and I may have already brought to fruition through Jesus Christ, we should recognize this continuous pursuit of holiness.

Outside of Jesus Christ, we could do nothing of eternal significance. Therefore, it helps us to remain as humble as possible. Otherwise, it could lead us to self-righteousness, pride, or complacency when we fail to remember the Source of our achievements. Keeping these realities aligned in our understanding helps us to stay on track. Instead of relying too much on our strength and human knowledge to navigate life, we surrender more and more of our lives willingly to God. It is safe to trust that the more we acknowledge His sovereignty over each area, the better off we will position ourselves in His eternal will for us (Romans 8:28).

It is crucial for us never to forget how important the role of repentance is in the life of all Christians. How can we expect God’s blessings, including His presence in our lives, if we do not focus intently on what His Word shares about repentance? 

“12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NKJV)

If we want to enjoy God’s promises, we must also do our part to fulfill their conditions. How can we expect God to heal our land altogether, and for that matter, all the nations impacted by the pandemic if we do not repent? With a warning as straightforward as this found in God’s Word, like a blueprint for us to borrow for modern-day application, it should provoke a desire in us to obey the Bible’s instructions. Of course, we cannot expect non-believers to abide by these principles, but the Church should take heed. It brings me comfort that God did not destroy Soddom and Gomorrah immediately in their depravity because of a few righteous people. It was not until after extensive warnings, mercy, and grace that this ultimately came to happen. God even provided a way of escape for Lot and others before He destroyed the city along with everyone else. I can only imagine a similar situation today is keeping us alive here in the United States (Genesis 18:16-33).

Thus, if we want to see healing across our lands, we must follow these instructions in 2 Chronicles with a great deal of care. I believe God would potentially delight in ordaining another “Great Awakening”. Although individually, it may appear as though our prayers or influence may be small, we cannot afford to underestimate their power in the times we live. We cannot account for everyone’s lives, but we should take our stand as the Church. Therefore, let us come together in prayer, pursue holiness, and fight to repent of all our sins as the Holy Spirit leads us to. Let’s make our mark in this fleeting world by counting it all as loss and making our lives count for God’s glory by seeking Jesus Christ above all else (Philippians 3:8).

Thankfully, whether it is in God’s providence to lead us to a renaissance of repentance or things keep getting progressively worse from here, we do not need to fear. Either way, since we fear God and rest in His sovereignty, it is without question that despite facing an uncertain future in the near term, we await a sure reward in our Lord’s presence for eternity. Therefore, it follows for us to pursue everything that has eternal value rather than merely temporal value here on earth.

Often it may seem as though the allure of the world’s amenities are more meaningful than they are. Yet, the truth is that the appetites of the flesh are insatiable, and the world will never satisfy that missing puzzle piece in our hearts that only Jesus Christ can fill. Without Him, we are left to our own devices, pursuing fleeting idols and living purposeless lives. Yet, with Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors, and we are building towards a future in Heaven that none of us can fully fathom. Therefore, let us repent and seek forgiveness from God. We need to ask Him to reveal our shortcomings to repeat this process daily. We may be in the process of sanctification, but we will remain imperfect during our time here on earth.

Suffice it to say you and I still have a mission left to do here. If you are reading this sentence, God still has a purpose for you here on earth. While that purpose for all of us is to bring Him glory, He wants you to grab hold of the calling that He sets before you. You may or may not have figured that out by now, but it is not too late if you are not sure or if you have delayed answering His call. Consider this your call to action. I encourage you to seek God in prayer, read His Word and do some introspection to determine what He would have you do. The most unexpected avenues can become favorable opportunities for planting seeds that will one day provide plentiful harvests for you.

If you still remain uncertain, consider what some people have recognized as a potential area of strength in your life. For example, it could be a gift, talent, resource, opportunity, or a career that opens the door for you to honor, glorify, and acknowledge God. Often it comes more naturally to you than to the average person, and you find a great deal of fulfillment in it. You may have to look beyond your day job to see it, but God will help you find it if you look diligently. It may even be something you already do that can be slightly modified to be effective for God’s Kingdom.

I recommend finding ways to win souls for Jesus Christ (Proverbs 11:30) and helping those who cannot help themselves (Matthew 25:30-40). Look to love God and love your neighbor. If we fight for these two things, everything meaningful in this life stems from them. That is why they are the two greatest commandments.

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Store up for yourself Heavenly treasures where they last forever, rather than the allure of worldly pleasures and desires. All those will quickly fade while accomplishing the former will never cease to bless countless people forever (1 John 2:17). Every encounter to evangelize could be the difference in someone’s eternal destination. Keep your eyes on God and abide in Him as you answer the call He puts in your heart. You will not go wrong eternally when you genuinely take this approach.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)