Don’t Squander The Life God Has Given Us!
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 
Read the passage
BIO: My name is Todd McLennan: I am originally from Chicago, and I am the Director of Communications here at FPCO. My wonderful wife Gina and our awesome family live in Longwood, where she is a dance teacher and is very active volunteering at school, Girl Scouts etc. My oldest daughter Christie, is 17 and plays Tennis for Orangewood Christian School. She just returned from a mission trip to the Honduras, where she grew immensely in her faith and servant’s heart. Ryan is 14 and plays Basketball and Tennis for Orangewood, and has served with me volunteering at Jobs Partnership as well as ASOM. Lexy is 9 and enjoys Horses and rescuing anything with 4 legs. We enjoy family time out on our boat, away from life’s distractions. We also enjoy family reunions in Wisconsin and Georgia every summer. I thank God every day for my wife and kids and the joy we have together as a family.
KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 6:1 "As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it"
CENTRAL TRUTH: We have an opportunity each day to either make a difference for God’s kingdom or to squander that day on our own pursuits- which will it be?
DEVOTIONAL: Don’t Squander The Life God Has Given Us!
Paul proceeds to run off a litany of lifes’ challenges: some we can relate to easily, and others outside of most of our experiences.
Verses 4-6- "endurance in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God" …and so on.
While we can relate more to "troubles and hardships" than "beatings and riots", his point remains the same. Paul is sampling an all-encompassing list of servitude to God: all things both difficult and easy. Think of your own life today. Add to Paul’s list all the trials that you are presently facing, and all the joys that you are personally reveling in. "Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in EVERY WAY". Pray and seek to turn all those life issues over to God in servitude to Him for today.
Similarly, In Luke 9:24 God instructs us "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". God is fully informed of our short-term memories and waning commitment. He reminds us to "re-up" our reliance on Him and our daily commitment to live the next 24 hours fully sold-out for Him. Tomorrow morning we should get up and renew the whole deal again! It sounds exhausting, yet God, as usual, knows exactly what He is doing. Living our daily agenda under OUR OWN power is exhausting: allowing God to take the reigns of our lives offers total relief and re-energizes us daily. Not because life will be a cake-walk, but because allowing Him to be in charge and us to be His servants, removes all the pressure of our strivings and failings. If we live each day sold-out for Him, as well as attributing to Him all the glory of our accomplishments, He will shoulder our burdens and provide us unmitigated Peace.
QUESTION 1: You have an opportunity to either make a difference for God’s kingdom or to squander the day on your own pursuits- which will it be for you today?
QUESTION 2: Do I become a stumbling block to my Ministry as others observe me? (particularly Non-believers) If so I better identify the behavior and cut it out of my life. To do so, I need accountability to brothers in Christ and to confess it in prayer while seeking God’s help.
QUESTION 3: What can I do in the next 8 hours that is in service to God instead of to me?
God forgive me for my failings and guide and empower me to serve you with my life today!
Share
