Finding True Significance: Counting in God's Eyes

Devotional

Day 1: True Significance Lies in Serving God

We are created by God to matter, and our significance is not measured by titles or material success but by our ability to serve and glorify God through our actions. This understanding challenges the common pursuit of validation through worldly achievements. Instead, it invites us to find our worth in the divine purpose God has for each of us. By aligning our lives with God's will, we become instruments of His love and grace, impacting the world in ways that transcend earthly measures of success. Our actions, when rooted in service to God, become a testament to His glory and a reflection of His image in us. [03:21]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from seeking validation through worldly achievements to serving God in your daily life?

Day 2: Joy in a Mighty Purpose

The true joy of life is found in being used for a purpose we recognize as mighty, becoming a force of nature rather than seeking selfish validation. This perspective aligns us with God's greater plan, allowing us to experience fulfillment beyond personal gain. When we embrace a purpose that transcends our individual desires, we become part of something larger, contributing to the unfolding of God's kingdom on earth. This joy is not fleeting but enduring, as it is rooted in the eternal significance of God's work through us. [02:15]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can commit your work to the Lord, seeking joy in His mighty purpose rather than personal validation?

Day 3: Reflecting God's Glory Through Deeds

Jesus teaches us that our worth is not in human accolades but in our good deeds that reflect God's glory. His life exemplifies humility and service, closing the gap between our limitations and God's greatness. By following Jesus' example, we learn to prioritize actions that honor God and uplift others, rather than seeking recognition for ourselves. This shift in focus allows us to become vessels of God's love, shining His light in a world that often values superficial achievements. [10:02]

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you let your light shine today in a way that reflects God's glory and not your own?

Day 4: Helping Others Find Their Significance

We count the most when we help others find their significance. Our actions and choices shape who we become, and we must focus on meaningful doing that uplifts others. By investing in the lives of those around us, we contribute to their journey of discovering their God-given purpose. This selfless approach not only enriches their lives but also deepens our own sense of fulfillment and connection to God's mission. [08:50]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you support today in discovering their significance and purpose in God's plan?

Day 5: Following Jesus' Example of Service

Jesus invites us to follow Him, not to lead by worldly standards. This invitation challenges us to redefine leadership as service and to find our purpose in following His example. By embracing humility and prioritizing the needs of others, we align ourselves with the heart of Christ. This path of service leads to a deeper understanding of God's love and a more profound impact on the world around us. [09:14]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can follow Jesus' example of service in your community or family today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often grapple with the question of significance—what does it mean to truly count? This is a question that resonates deeply within us, as we are all created by God to matter. From the very beginning, the Bible tells us that we are made in the image of God, endowed with a purpose and a mission. God has given us a mandate to exercise dominion, to be creative and powerful in the service of the good. However, this drive for significance can easily become distorted, leading us to seek validation through ego, titles, or material success.

The words of George Bernard Shaw remind us that the true joy of life is to be used for a purpose we recognize as mighty, to be a force of nature rather than a selfish, feverish clod of grievances. Jesus offers us a different perspective on what it means to count. He teaches us that the strength of our light is not measured by human standards but by our good deeds that glorify God. Our lives are not brief candles but splendid torches meant to burn brightly for future generations.

In today's world, many young people are struggling to find their purpose, feeling pressured or hopeless. Yet, whether young or old, we are all made to count. Our actions, choices, and habits shape who we become, and we must be mindful not to fall into the trap of grandiose or despairing doing. The truth is, we count the most when we help others count with their lives. Jesus invites us not to lead but to follow Him, closing the gap between our finiteness and God's greatness through His example of humility and service.

As we embark on this series, "Made to Count," let us explore what it means to become the kind of person who truly counts, not by the world's standards but by God's. Let us strive to be used for a purpose greater than ourselves, to be a light that shines brightly in the service of others.

Key Takeaways

1. Purpose and Significance: We are created by God to matter and have a purpose. Our significance is not measured by titles or material success but by our ability to serve and glorify God through our actions. [03:21]
2. True Joy of Life: The true joy of life is found in being used for a purpose we recognize as mighty, becoming a force of nature rather than seeking selfish validation. This perspective aligns us with God's greater plan. [02:15]
3. Jesus' Example: Jesus teaches us that our worth is not in human accolades but in our good deeds that reflect God's glory. His life exemplifies humility and service, closing the gap between our limitations and God's greatness. [10:02]
4. Helping Others Count: We count the most when we help others find their significance. Our actions and choices shape who we become, and we must focus on meaningful doing that uplifts others. [08:50]
5. Invitation to Follow: Jesus invites us to follow Him, not to lead by worldly standards. This invitation challenges us to redefine leadership as service and to find our purpose in following His example. [09:14]
** [09:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Paul Tournier's Influence
[00:32] - Launch of Become New Website
[01:12] - Book Project on the 12 Steps
[01:49] - Series Introduction: Made to Count
[02:01] - The True Joy of Life
[03:21] - Created to Matter
[04:21] - The Weight of Leadership
[05:39] - Jesus' Perspective on Counting
[06:25] - Family Reunion Insights
[07:03] - Hope for Young People
[08:09] - The Connection Between Doing and Being
[09:03] - Helping Others Count
[09:14] - Jesus' Invitation to Follow
[10:02] - Closing Thoughts on Jesus' Example

Sermon Clips

"this then is the true joy of life to be used for a purpose that you recognize as a mighty one to be a force of nature not a selfish feverish little clod of grievances and ailments is complaining because the world will not devote itself to making you happy i am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and it is my privilege as long as i live to do for it whatever i can i want to be thoroughly used up before i die for it is when i work hard that i am fully alive i rejoice in life for its own sake life for me is not a brief candle it is instead kind of a splendid torch which i want to make burn as brightly as possible before i hand it off to future generations" [00:02:07]

"i believe my life is based on this commitment that we were created by god to matter to count and the bible talks about that from the very beginning that every human being was made in the image of god and then god gave to human beings a purpose a mandate a mission god has this project that is infinitely larger than anything that we can imagine and god says to human beings exercise dominion i'm giving to you a little kingdom where you are to be creative and powerful in the service of the good rule over the earth the fish in the sea and the birds in the air we were made to count we have a drive for significance" [00:03:21]

"jesus brings another way of understanding what does it mean to count he says let your light this splendid torch not a brief candle this splendid torch let your light so shine before other people that they see your good deeds and praise the father who is in heaven that the strength of the light of your life is not measured by the human impression or worth or size or scale of your deeds or your title or your money or your office and yet and yet and yet to be used by a purpose that you recognize as a mighty one to become with god's help a force of nature is why we exist and that's never been needed i think more than it is right now" [00:05:39]

"so if you're young you were made to count if you were old you were made to count if you don't know whether you're young or old you're old but we're all made to count and each day we're going to meet together and and learn about what does it mean to become the kind of person that counts because what you do matters often especially people in spirituality fields will remind us we are human beings not human doings and that is true but alan wheeles wrote this wonderful book how people change we are what we do over time the choices that we make and the habits that we form create the characters that we inhabit and the lives that we live" [00:07:03]

"the truth is the truth is the truth is that you are made to count but you count the most when you are helping other people count with their lives and one of the great problems in our day and we'll see how jesus talks about this is that we live in a world and it's always been this when we think some people count more than other people leaders count followers don't count and yet as we will see jesus great invitation was not go out and lead them it was come and follow me" [00:09:03]

"no book on theology or ethics no matter how inspired can fill the immense gap between our fightness finiteness and the undreamed of greatness of god only jesus closed the gap but starting from the other end by stripping off his divine majesty look how great i am and putting on our human existence it was when he looked the least impressive to everyone that he was teaching us most how to make our lives count" [00:10:02]

"we were made to count we have a drive for significance but that so easily gets lost and sometimes it gets really grandiose and i think well i have to count more than other people it's very interesting that those words to reign or to rule or to exercise dominion were very fraught words in the ancient world and jesus when he would talk about them mostly delivered warnings to them we're going to look at the word leader that's a real weighted word in our day everybody wants to be a leader god forbid that you're not a leader and the reason that that is so powerful to us is that we were made to count but it gets so toxic it becomes all about my ego or then i get exhausted and burdened in trying to do it and i think it's about ways of looking impressive in human terms" [00:04:21]

"and people who get highly educated feel exhausted pressured people who don't get an elite education feel like is there any hope for me you might know the death deaths of despair they're being called opioid use suicide addiction have been so severe that for the first time in a century the average mortality rate of the united states has gone down and jake is an advocate for this one particular field in manufacturing he says that 20 years ago only 12 percent of the people in that field were over 50. now it's like 26 and and uh the reason people are tuning in is there's hope for young people" [00:06:25]

"and the reason that that is so powerful to us is that we were made to count but it gets so toxic it becomes all about my ego or then i get exhausted and burdened in trying to do it and i think it's about ways of looking impressive in human terms or that i have to live in such a way that my spirit is thin it's an old saying i'd rather burn out than rust out but either way you're out i don't want to be out or we think that people who really count are folks who are willing to sacrifice relational intimacy and friendship and warmth and connection" [00:04:21]

"and yet and yet and yet to be used by a purpose that you recognize as a mighty one to become with god's help a force of nature is why we exist and that's never been needed i think more than it is right now i was at my family reunion this past week and it was so good there were 84 of us there we got a whole lot more we have been fruitful and multiplied that's my mom's side of the family the whole side of the family one of them there was my cousin danny's son jake and jake you might know him online he's known as the manufacturing manufacturing millennial and he has like six or seven hundred thousand views every month he has discovered this calling because there are so many amongst young adults who are just kind of floundering trying to find what should i do with my life" [00:06:25]

"and the reason that that is so powerful to us is that we were made to count but it gets so toxic it becomes all about my ego or then i get exhausted and burdened in trying to do it and i think it's about ways of looking impressive in human terms or that i have to live in such a way that my spirit is thin it's an old saying i'd rather burn out than rust out but either way you're out i don't want to be out or we think that people who really count are folks who are willing to sacrifice relational intimacy and friendship and warmth and connection" [00:04:21]

"and yet and yet and yet to be used by a purpose that you recognize as a mighty one to become with god's help a force of nature is why we exist and that's never been needed i think more than it is right now i was at my family reunion this past week and it was so good there were 84 of us there we got a whole lot more we have been fruitful and multiplied that's my mom's side of the family the whole side of the family one of them there was my cousin danny's son jake and jake you might know him online he's known as the manufacturing manufacturing millennial and he has like six or seven hundred thousand views every month he has discovered this calling because there are so many amongst young adults who are just kind of floundering trying to find what should i do with my life" [00:06:25]

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