Treasured Tribe, if you knew today was your last day to live, how would you spend it?
Somedays, I wake up ready to go – wanting to live life to the fullest. But then other days when life gets the best of me, my strength evaporates as difficult circumstances envelope my day like August’s heavy humidity.
I feel overwhelmed.
I feel inadequate.
I am afraid of failing.
People get on my nerves.
I get hurt, and I am tempted to retaliate or stuff my anger inside. I compare myself or listen to the words of others and ….I want to sit down and quit!
When you feel this way, does it make you a bad Christian? Well, I hope not, because those emotions roared this morning. But then I took a step back and paused to apply a timeless biblical solution. Jesus has given us this strategy when life saps our strength. Find resilience to remain steadfast by retreating to gain an eternal perspective.
The way not to give up is to find energy by looking up.
“Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2b
The Battle Rages…
There is a battle going on for your heart far beyond what you can see. The enemy of your soul capitalizes on the catastrophe in your life to capsize courage so we will back down from your calling.
But Jesus is fighting for you too – and tells us to win this war – by looking up to not give up.
As the cross drew near, the disciples would experience a downpour of discouragement that would distract them from their divine appointment. And so, Jesus talked to them about eternity.
In Mark 13, Jesus prophesized about future events to teach his disciples to live in the present. The disciples wanted to know “when” this would happen, but Jesus told them to “watch” and attend to their assigned tasks. Jesus was telling them to keep their focus heavenward and live with purpose.
Instead of focusing on when Jesus wants us to focus on being ready. He wants us to watch and be on our guard. If we truly believe Jesus is coming again, we will watch for him take our authority, and pursue our calling with a passion.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” Mark 31:34
We All Have a Job to Do…
God has given us a job to do in our assigned sphere of influence to serve others and point them to Christ. While we are on this earth, we need to make the most of every minute in that sphere.
And as we stand on the foundation of God’s presence instead of the shifting sand of circumstances, the disappointments will not break you—they will build you.
“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3–4 NLT).
And now you must live this truth and make a difference!
What if we wake up every morning and as soon as our feet hit the floor decide to live today as if it were our last 24 hours? How different would each day be if we lived with an eternal perspective?
Treasured Tribe, we only have one life to live. Each day is a gift. Let’s live it to the fullest. Find the energy to live with great expectation by looking up to eternity.
Nourish Scripture: Mark 13
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Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
