Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever paused to consider the true significance of your life? Not just in terms of your daily routines or worldly accomplishments, but in light of eternity? Today, I want to consider with you a subject that is central to our faith: living a life of true significance as followers of Christ.

Friends, when we talk about significance, we're not just referring to leaving a mark on this world – though that's certainly part of it. We're talking about a life that resonates with eternal purpose, a life that reflects the very nature of God Himself. It's about understanding that every action, every word, every small act of kindness has ripples that extend far beyond our earthly existence.

You see, our God is a God of both security and significance. He offers us unshakeable security through the finished work of Christ on the cross. As it says in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This security frees us to live lives of true significance, not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and gratitude.

But what does a life of significance look like? It's not about grand gestures or world-changing acts (though God may call some to those). It's about living each day in the reality of God's kingdom, allowing His life to flow through us. Jesus painted a vivid picture of this in His Sermon on the Mount, which we find in Matthew chapters 5-7.

In this sermon, Jesus doesn't give us a set of rules to follow. Instead, He describes the character and actions of those who are living in the reality of God's kingdom. He starts with the Beatitudes, those profound statements that turn our worldly understanding upside down. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus says, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Friends, this 'poverty of spirit' is the key to living a life of true significance. It's not about being materially poor, but about recognising our complete dependence on God. It's admitting, “Lord, in my flesh dwells no good thing. I can't produce the life You're calling me to, but You can.” This humility opens the floodgates for God's grace to flow into and through our lives.

Consider for a moment the implications of this truth. In a world that constantly tells us to be self-sufficient, to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, Jesus is saying that true blessedness – true significance – comes from acknowledging our spiritual bankruptcy. It's a paradox, isn't it? The way up is down. The way to fullness is through emptiness. The way to strength is through weakness.

This principle is echoed throughout Scripture. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, says, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27). And again, when speaking of his own weaknesses, he declares, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Jesus goes on in the Sermon on the Mount to describe a life that goes beyond mere rule-keeping to heart transformation. He speaks of loving our enemies, giving in secret, storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. These aren't just nice ideals – they're descriptions of the supernatural life that becomes possible when we're connected to the true source of life.

Take, for instance, Jesus' words about loving our enemies. He says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Now, let's be honest – this is not natural. Our natural inclination when someone wrongs us is to seek revenge, or at the very least, to withhold kindness. But Jesus is calling us to a higher way, a way that's only possible through His indwelling life.

Or consider His teachings on giving. “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:3-4). Again, this runs counter to our natural desires. We like recognition. We like people to know about our good deeds. But Jesus is inviting us into a life of significance that's not based on the applause of men, but on the approval of our Heavenly Father.

You see, we can't manufacture this life in our own strength. Jesus made this clear when He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our significance doesn't come from what we can accomplish, but from who we're connected to.

This connection to Christ gives our lives meaning not just for today, but for eternity. Every act of obedience, every choice to love, every moment of abiding in Christ has eternal significance. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

But let's be real – living this way isn't easy. We stumble, we fall back into our old ways of thinking and acting. That's why Jesus also said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This isn't about wallowing in guilt, but about honestly recognising our failures and returning to dependence on Christ. It's in these moments of mourning that we experience the comfort of God's grace and are lifted up to continue our journey.

Friends, this process of recognising our weakness, mourning our failures, and returning to dependence on Christ isn't a one-time event. It's a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment, reality of the Christian life. But far from being discouraging, this is actually incredibly freeing. Why? Because it means we don't have to have it all together. We don't have to pretend to be strong. We can be honest about our struggles, knowing that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Living a life of significance isn't about striving harder or doing more. It's about abiding in Christ, allowing His life to flow through us. It's about recognising that even the smallest acts – a kind word, a loving gesture, a moment of forgiveness – have eternal weight when done in and through Christ.

Consider the story Jesus told about the widow's mite in Mark 12:41-44. While the rich were putting large sums into the treasury, this poor widow put in two small copper coins. Yet Jesus said she had put in more than all the others, because she gave out of her poverty. This story beautifully illustrates the principle that in God's economy, significance isn't measured by the size of our actions, but by the heart behind them and the source from which they flow.

As we go about our days, let's remember that we're not just living for the here and now. Our lives are connected to eternity. Every choice to abide in Christ, every act of obedience, every moment of dependence on Him is building something that will last forever. As Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

This perspective changes everything, doesn't it? It means that the mundane tasks of daily life – changing diapers, going to work, cooking meals – can be infused with eternal significance when done as unto the Lord. It means that our struggles and sufferings aren't meaningless but are producing for us “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Friends, living a life of significance also means understanding our true identity in Christ. We are no longer defined by our failures or our accomplishments, but by who we are in Him. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” You are not an accident. You are not a mistake. You are a masterpiece, created by God for a specific purpose.

This identity as God's workmanship frees us from the need to prove ourselves or earn our worth. It allows us to rest in God's love and acceptance, even as we pursue living lives that honour Him. It's from this place of security that we can truly live lives of significance, not to earn God's favour, but as a response to the favour we've already been given in Christ.

Moreover, understanding our identity in Christ helps us navigate the challenges and disappointments of life. When things don't go as we planned, when we face rejection or failure, we can hold fast to the truth that our worth and our significance are not determined by our circumstances or our performance, but by our relationship with Christ.

Let me encourage you with this thought: Your life, connected to Christ, has eternal significance. Every act of obedience, every choice to love, every moment spent in His presence is building something that will last forever. You may not see the full impact of your life now, but one day, in eternity, you'll understand just how significant your life has been.

Be blessed today my brothers and sisters. May you walk in the profound truth that your life, connected to Christ, has eternal significance. May you find freedom in admitting your poverty of spirit and joy in depending fully on Him. And may you experience the supernatural life that flows from abiding in the True Vine, bearing fruit that will last for eternity. Remember, in Christ, you are significant, you are loved, and you are destined for greatness in God's kingdom.

Phil