Did you know, what you do matters to God? No matter the hardship, difficulty or circumstance, the Lord cares about you and is always there to guide you, support you and care for you if you let Him. But what about our responsibilities in all this? Do we hold ourselves accountable to Almighty God? Do we consider scripture and try to live in a way that is pleasing to Him? Let’s examine this spiritual and very personal relationship more closely, so that we can better understand why we matter so very much to the Lord.
First, we need to gain a better understanding of what it is to truly matter to someone else? To matter means to be of importance to someone and that is how God feels about His people. He knows each of us personally and intimately. This includes all of our sins, failures and flaws. Even though we have these imperfections, He still loves us, values us and cares about our lives according to His will. Even in the pain and suffering He allows in our lives, He is still caring for us, and His promises have not failed. God has said that He will never leave or forsake us, and He won’t Hebrews 13:5.
Turn to your Bible’s and look at 1 John, chapter 3, John says; “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3).
As a child of God, we are to be sensitive to sin and things that are displeasing to Him. This means what we do matters. Now some might say; “Pastor, wait a minute, I don’t want to have to live by so many rules and regulations.” Or, “The rest of the world operates this way, why can’t I?” Or my personal favorite, “I don’t believe in God, because if I do, then I can’t live the way I want to live and do the things that I want to do.” My reply to all those statements is simple. What if you are wrong? Is your moral authority absolute? Is your knowledge, clarity and purpose perfect? Are you willing to take that chance and damage your relationship with the Lord over a few fleeting moments versus and eternity of peace, love and care beyond measure? As I use to tell my children, “It’s foolish pride and arrogance to think that we can do it better than Almighty God. You may want to rethink your position and pray before you act.”
The Bible tells us; “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him” 1 John 3:2. When Christ returns, we will be raised to be like Him. In the greatest chapter on resurrection, Paul wrote, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” 1 Cor. 15:20. God not only provides everything we need for life and godliness in the present, but even greater provision awaits us in the future. He reaches down into our lives through His Word and opened our minds and hearts to understand the gospel.
Our lives matter to Him because God desires the best for us. Consider this, “What would you have to lose, if you asked God to come into your heart and be your personal Lord and Savior?” “What would you gain?” God gives each of us that choice. And because He loves us unconditionally, all He is waiting for, is for you to take that first step, into a life inspired by the Holy Spirit. And the that’s my prayer for you today.
God bless you...