Posts Tagged ‘significance’

Never Too Late

Posted: January 20, 2010 in Christ, Christianity, life
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“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” -George Eliot

As it turns out, George Eliot is actually Mary Anne Evans — a female novelist who wrote under a male pseudonym.

“George” passed away in 1880 but she is still known today because she knew how to write a good story.

What about you?

Your life is a subplot in the greatest story that’s ever been told — the story of redemption. Redemption is about Jesus Christ but you play an important supporting role.

Here’s the good news: you get to write your own lines!

The basic plot, setting, and main characters are outside of your control but you have great creative freedom in determining the role you’ll play within the larger story of redemption.

You can’t change what’s already happened – filming has wrapped on that part of your life. But since you’re still breathing, the story isn’t over yet!

If you want to make 2010 count, here’s Step 4:  Assess the storyline. Think of yourself as a character in a movie: Where did you come from? Where are you now? Where are you headed? If you don’t like the direction your storyline is taking, it’s not too late to edit the script.

As George Eliot writes, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Start today.

Start now.

If you need help with this step, I highly recommend The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley.   (more…)

Dang it!

Posted: January 19, 2010 in Christ
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I remember the good ol’ days, when the world revolved around me. I was the star in my own series: The Life and Times of Kraig. About Kraig. For Kraig. Written by Kraig. Produced by Kraig. Starring Kraig.

When I chose to follow Christ, I assumed that Jesus would make my life better. I mean, in the story of Kraig, that’s what I expect God to do. Serve me. Bless me. Provide for me. Grant me my desires and wishes. Give me a promotion. Make me rich. Keep me happy.

My prayers followed the pattern of my expectations. “Dear Lord, here’s what you can do for me today: ______________________. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Imagine my shock when I discovered this passage in Colossians 1 (TNIV):

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Dang it!

I wanted the story to be about me. But it turns out the story is about Jesus … He has supremacy over all things (including me).    (more…)

A to Z

Posted: January 6, 2010 in Christ
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“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,
“who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.” (Rev 22:13)

To make 2010 count, Step 2 reads like this: “Understand that the story of redemption begins and ends with God. If you are trying to make your life count without God, you are a footnote at best. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it is.”

In the verses above, “the Alpha and the Omega” (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) represent the Hebrew Aleph and Tau, which were regarded not simply as the first and last letters of the alphabet, but as including all the letters in between.

Hence, the title sets forth God as the sovereign Lord over everything that takes place in the entire course of human history.

By applying this title to Himself, God comforts us with the assurance that He has everything under control. No matter how difficult your current circumstances, God promises eternal blessing to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.    (more…)

What’s Your Story?

Posted: January 5, 2010 in Christ
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I described the first step toward making 2010 count this way: “Learn to see your life as part of a bigger story – the story of redemption. Like any good story, all of the individual chapters of your life should move the story progressively closer to its desired ending.”

History has a purpose and is directed toward a goal.

You and I are characters in a story that culminates with the redemption of mankind and the full revelation of the glory of God.

I propose that our individual lives can only be significant insofar as they are connected with the bigger story of what God is doing in the whole of human history. In other words, we must place our present existence within the broader context of both the past and the future — within an awareness of God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ.

Here’s your theology lesson for the day:

According to Dr. Daniel Fuller, the Greek word for “purpose” (boulē) implies the deliberate choice to pursue a certain goal step-by-step in a methodical way. In Acts 13:36, Paul says, “…when David had served God’s purpose (boulē) in his own generation, he fell asleep…” In other words, there were steps in God’s purpose that had to be taken in David’s lifetime, and David served God in the way he helped carry out those steps.    (more…)

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