There are a lot of books, movies and discussion groups out there that always seem to be attempting to answer one question:
“What is the meaning of life?”
It’s a good question, and a hard one at that. But I don’t think the answer is going to be found in a Hollywood production or just any old book.
For me, my heart knows what counts.
Faith. And not just general faith, as in “Think positive and things will work out” or “Don’t Stop Believing” (although that is one of my favorite songs of all time to belt out at the top of my lungs.)
The one thing that counts for me is faith in Jesus Christ.
Which brings us to our final Hidden Ah-Ha for this series, a goodie hidden in Galatians.
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” ~Galatians 5:6b
I know I say this every week, but WOW. That is a powerful Jesus message right there.
When it comes to our faith and living our life for Christ, faith expressing itself in love is the ONLY thing that counts. Our past doesn’t count. Our current circumstances don’t count. Our successes and failures don’t count.
But faith expressing itself in love? Now THAT is the only thing that counts.
Don’t get me wrong– God certainly CARES about all aspects of our lives, and I can promise you that He will NOT abandon you in those failures or struggles or challenges. But when push comes to shove, how we love God and love His people is what really counts in this life.
We read in 1 John 4:16 that “God is love.” So if God is love, then we can share our faith with others by letting God’s love shine though us.
This can come in the form of small acts of kindness, like a Factor of 7. We can show God’s love by not seeking revenge on someone who has hurt us, but instead choosing forgiveness. Our faith can be expressed in love by ministering right where we are with all we have.
When we consider our faith in God, we can’t just look at the Godly practices in our lives. Yes, going to church, reading The Word, having quiet time and praying regularly all contribute to a deep love relationship with God. But we aren’t supposed to stop there. If we are do these things, then there will be a natural overflow of our faith… Which will be in the form of love, pouring out onto all of those around us.
So let’s think about this friends: On a scale of one to ten, where do you feel that your faith-love expression falls? What do you sense God is calling you to in order to boost that number as you draw closer to Him? I always love to hear from you… don’t be shy. Leave a comment.
Take heart and remember… It is so important to cling to the truth that it isn’t what we do that matters most, but rather what God can do through us. When God works in us, the beautiful result is faith expressing itself through His love.
And that, dear friends, is the only thing that counts.
Counting on Him,
“For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.” Galatians 5:6 MSG
