Things are a little crazy and unpredictable in our world right now.
People are wondering about the future.
They are looking for purpose and calling.
Some are searching for a new job, hobby, passion, friendship, life partner, or even a new show on Netflix.
And, many would like to have meaningful life.
People are wondering about the future. And, many would like to have meaningful life. Click To Tweet
Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
Matthew 7:23
How to Have Meaningful Life
You may have many friends in life, but isn’t it great when you have that one friend who knows you?
They know your feelings, your likes, and dislikes, when you are sad when you are happy when you are concerned about something, etc.
Having a friend who knows you can fill a void that no one else can fill.
Do you have a friend like this?
What a friend we have in Jesus.
Did you know that Jesus wants to be a friend to you?
He wants to bring purpose and hope into your life.
Further, He wants you to have meaningful life.
Knowing Jesus and having Him know you is sweet… sweeter than any other relationship we can ever have.
Did you know that Jesus wants to be a friend to you? He wants to bring purpose and hope into your life. Click To Tweet
Jesus lays down His life for the ‘sheep’ He knows. “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
John 10:14-15
When Jesus lays down His life for those He knows, it means that they know Him and have the same relationship with Him that He does with the Father.
Jesus had a special relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Why?
Because he desired to be just like Him.
Jesus wanted to know and follow His Father.
Jesus wanted to make God’s commands a part of His life.
Indeed, He wanted to obey God on the Father’s terms, and not on His own terms.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
1 John 2:3-4
Was Jesus successful?
Yes.
He was, and as a result, the Father knew Him, and He knew the Father.
Thinking about the future.
When you step into eternity, which one of these would you like to hear?
“I never knew you, away from me you evildoer!”
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
“You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith!”
None of us want to hear the first one, right?
However, many are considered ‘religious’ who will hear those bone-chilling words.
According to the scriptures, who will hear those words, and why?
Some will hear them because they claimed to be believers, but failed to do the Will of God.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 17:21
Are we just pretending to be a friend of God?
Some can convince those around them that they are obedient to the Lord.
Indeed, they know personally that they are guilty of justifying their disobedience to some of His commands.
Partial obedience is still disobedience.
We can sound ‘religious’ to those around them, but God reads our hearts.
Truly, He knows which of His commands we are disobeying.
Partial obedience is still disobedience. We can sound 'religious' to those around them, but God reads our hearts. Click To Tweet
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Others will say, look at all the work I did for God.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Matthew 7:22
God sees our efforts!
God can see our efforts, but He knows when we lack the sincerity of our faith.
We may have been busy doing things that looked good to others, and possibly feed our ego, but are getting to know the Lord?
Does our relationship with Jesus matter to us?
Have we allowed certain areas of our life to line up with Him, but held back other areas?
We may have been busy doing things that looked good to others, and possibly feed our ego, but are getting to know the Lord? Click To Tweet
A few practical considerations about meaningful life:
First… remember when you first invited the Lord into your life?
You wanted Him to have total control and you couldn’t wait to tell others how your life had been changed.
And, you looked forward to absorbing more of Jesus every day.
Has anything dulled your excitement and desire to fellowship with the Lord?
Have you lost some of the joy of your salvation?
Has anything dulled your excitement and desire to fellowship with the Lord? Click To Tweet
Second… have you been spending time getting to know Him?
Are you enjoying daily time with Him in prayer?
How’s your Bible study time?
Are you in a community with other believers?
What are you reading and listening to?
Does it all point you back to Christ?
Third… have you been following the path He has charted for you?
Are you allowing Him to lead you forward and give you meaning?
Are you inviting God to show you His will for your life?
Or, are you taking your own path?
Are you inviting God to show you His will for your life? Or, are you taking your own path? Click To Tweet
Finally… How would you answer the following question?
“What have you done for the Lord, what are You doing for Him now, and what do you plan to do for Him in the future?”
Closing prayer
“Heavenly Father, I want to know You and for You to know me. When I see You face to face, I want You to recognize me as one of Your sheep.
Forgive me for creating my own set of commands that I will obey.
Change me so that I will have a desire to obey all of Your commands.
I want to enjoy fellowship with You while I am living my life on earth. You are the One to bring true meaning to my life.
Give me confidence that I can be successful in ‘keeping Your commands’ and following the path You have established especially for me.
I shudder at the thought of hearing You say, ‘Depart from me, I never knew you’.”
I want to enjoy fellowship with You while I am living my life on earth. You are the One to bring true meaning to my life. Click To Tweet
About the Author:
Don has been teaching Bible classes for over 40 years and a Christian blogger for the last 7 years.
He has been married to Debbie for 50 years and has two children and seven grandchildren. He is overwhelmed and humbled daily by the Lord’s presence.
You can check out Don’s blog at https://utvolwoody.wordpress.com/
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How to Have Meaningful Life
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