In HIM!

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
Acts 17:28

When I was younger, I used to wonder if my life is important. I now am convinced that every life, including mine, is important. There are several reasons that I believe this.


First, my life is important because I am God's creation. Psalm 139:14-16 says God formed me in my mother's womb and that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. Every last little detail of my body, my personality, my intelligence, and my emotional make up was designed by God's hand. Philippians 1:6 also makes it clear that God is still in the process of finishing the work that He began in my mother's womb. The life I am living--with its joys, triumphs, and trials--is important because it was planned by God and is a part of the process that God has chosen to use to mold and refine me into a woman who bears His image. I am important because He is in the process of finishing a "Masterpiece" that He planned before time began.


My life is also important because before God laid the foundation of the world He chose to place me in Him so I would be Holy and blameless. I brought honor to God when I acknowledged my sin and accepted Christ's payment for it. He accepted me in His son (Ephesians 1:4-8). God knew about every sin I would ever commit and yet before He created the earth He planned a way to make me holy and blameless in His sight. I hate being blamed for things I haven't done, so I can't even imagine being Christ who was willing to take God's wrath for not just my sin, but everyone’s sin! That is some kind of love!


My life is important because I am a Spiritual house for God to dwell in. (I Peter 2:4) The concept of God dwelling in us is something all Christians live with, yet it is incomprehensible. My body is the temple, the dwelling place; Christ chooses to dwell in now. Since the foundation of the earth, God has appeared to man in various forms, a burning bush, a dove, a wind, and as harsh judgments. He also appeared as a bright glory as he was when He led Israel out of Egypt, dwelt in the tabernacle, and then in the temple in Jerusalem. Now, He dwells in the world through me and through you! When we love someone, forgive an offense, apologize, share Christ, or serve someone I am showing him or her Christ.


My life matters because He has given my life purpose. "But we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, that you should show forth the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1I Peter 2:9) I am a part of the chosen generation and a part of a royal priesthood that bridges the gulf between man and God. I am His priest when I minister to the needs and hurts of others I am doing it in His name. I am a part of a holy nation that crosses geographical boundaries, time periods, social groups, and economical and racial barriers. I am set apart by God for the purpose of praising Him and holy in the sense that He is molding me into His likeness as I repent of my sin.


I also know my life matters because I am accepted by Christ. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says I was called out of darkness into light and that I am now one of God’s people. I know in my past there was a time I never felt like I quite fit into my family, my church, my school, or in certain social gatherings. This verse tells me that I am one of the people of God! I belong to the creator of the universe in the same way that Adam, Isaiah, King David, Moses, Joseph and Mary, and Paul did. When I am tempted to see my life as insignificant, that is a lies, because the Word is so clear about it being significant from God's perspective. His plans and acceptance of me mean that even though I may never fit into this world, I have a heavenly world and a heavenly family in which I am a perfect fit.


The same is true of you and your life. Your life is important because the Creator planned it. He also redeemed you with His own blood and He accepts you. He is never ashamed to call you or me His own. Because of this I hope that we each embrace the truth of who we are in Him and that we each choose to fulfill the awesome responsibility of being a part of His priesthood. He has given us significance by giving us the awesome job of ministering His love, truth, and grace to a dark world…what a joy to be His ears, His hands, His feet, His mouth, and His heart to people who need so desperately to see Him and to come to know Him.
Are you able to believe your life matters to the Creator? Are you willing to be His ambassador in this dark world?


Prayer: Father, in light of the number of people who have lived, are living, and will live it is easy to wonder if our lives means anything in the grand scheme of things. Thank You for creating us and for the plans You have laid for our lives before the world was made. Thank you for making us holy through Christ's death on the cross. Thank You for indwelling us and making us Your children and a part of your priesthood. Please use us to be your ears, hands, feet, mouth, and heart to people who need to know You. Help us boldly declare that You are our God and fill us with Your love. Help us to use words and actions reflect that we are redeemed. Let us sing and dance and shout your praises to the world! May the sacrifice of praise be given from pure and