FRIDAY
As I look back on this week’s devotionals, I’m struck by the unequivocal truth that meaning in life is found in sacrifice.
It shouldn’t be surprising that as our culture dives more and more into the self through individualism, self-expression, self-awareness, and self-actualization, we are becoming more and more depressed and anxious. True meaning cannot be found in the self. It can only be found in sacrificing for a higher purpose. That higher purpose, the only one higher than humanity, is God.
Mark Sayers, with John Mark Comer in their podcast, This Cultural Moment, suggests we have three buckets that need to be balanced in order to live a fulfilled life—freedom, meaning, and community. Our culture is full of freedom and lacking in meaning and community.
We are unwilling to sacrifice for community and meaning.
Church, let’s not fall prey to this same lie. We, of all people, should know better how to live a life of purpose. Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. He did it perfectly. Let’s follow his lead.
Philippians 2:5–8 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
In this passage we see that Jesus was willing to restrict some of his privileges of divinity in order to fulfill the will of God and in love die on the cross to save his people so that we can be in the presence of God.
Happiness (Joy) is found in the sacrifice of time to be in the presence of God.
Satisfaction in our achievements is found in sacrificing our will in favor of doing the will of God.
Love by definition is sacrificing our rights and privileges for the benefit of others. This love is defined by God, sourced in God and produced in us by God.
All this to say, Christians are people of rich purpose and meaning in our day-to-day lives with God. We find meaning when we find our joy in God, surrender to the will of God and live out the love of God together.