From the Pulpit: Are you living your best life?
Are you living your best life? We often hear that phrase, but do we know what it means? What is our best life? Jesus has a plan for your life. He says in Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” That sounds pretty straight forward and easy but it isn’t. Just after hearing that, you begin to wonder how do I love my neighbor? What am I supposed to do? That is where the spiritual gifts come in.
God has made each of you. In Jeremiah 1:5 God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God made you and gave you the gifts, talents, strengths and passions that you have. Then He puts people in your life that need your help so you can use these gifts and then in doing so, you give God glory.
The scripture gives us great lists of gifts. One of the well-known lists come from 1 Corinthians 12:27-30, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.” None of the lists in scripture are exhaustive. We have many gifts, as many gifts as there are people in the world, and really you could take this scripture and say, some are aunts, uncles, fathers, mothers, writers, speakers, counselors and students. Do all change diapers? Do all direct choirs? Do all bake cookies? God has given you gifts and made you who you are to serve Him in His kingdom. So, your best life is to use the gifts you have to help your neighbor therefore honoring God.
The thing is … this is not how you will be saved. What we are talking about here is your best life on earth, but your eternal life is given to you as another gift. Jesus Christ gave you eternal life through His death and resurrection and that life is the best life of all. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” So, live in the freedom of being able to live your best life for the glory of God knowing that your salvation is secure in the faith you have been given by God in His Son, Jesus Christ.
