Theme:   Blueprints for a Better Life - Begin with the End in Mind

Read: James 4:13-15; 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

Think: Do you look at life with your death in mind? I try to think about death as little as possible, actually. I figure why think about it until you have to? I can usually get by avoiding the topic for awhile, until reality finds me.

Reality found me a few weeks ago when I heard the story about Rachel Beckwith, the nine year old girl who was in the I 90 crash who eventually died from her injuries. She had recently begun to raise funds for a non-profit by asking for donations instead of gifts at her ninth birthday party. After her death, the community and ultimately the world responded by giving more than she or her family could have imagined. People heard about her tragic story and gave over 1 million dollars to the charity in her honor. This child’s act of generosity will provide over 50,000 people clean drinking water. Breath-taking.

I am so taken by this story because I have a nine year old daughter too, and I can think of few things worse than losing her to death. I’m sure Rachel’s mother wasn’t thinking of her daughter’s death that morning, nor do I think of my own. Like I said, I put it out of my mind. But death is guaranteed. And we can see in this story that every life makes an immeasurable difference in the span of eternity no matter how small or short. People wanted to make her life, and her death count for something significant, and to make it reach farther than she could on her own. So they gave and gave and continue to give. This child’s life and death sparked not only sorrow in us, but inspiration to live for something greater. Motivation to live for something bigger than ourselves.

We all want to make our life count, don’t we? When we look at our life with our ultimate death in mind, it certainly puts things in perspective. We begin to think about impact and influence and legacy. We think about the things and people that really matter. We think about the question Pastor Ben asked, “What would I do for God if there was no chance of failure?” Really, all we are called to do is to live for Him, the day in and day out of living with Christ at the center. He takes care of the impact, the influence and the legacy. Out of the transformed life He’s given to us, we sow the seeds of life all around us, and He makes them grow. He makes them flourish. We leave them in God’s hands and exercise our trust muscle, and let Him take care of the rest. Surrendering our control of the results is next to impossible without His constant help.

Do: Name the small step you will take today to pursue God’s call on your life and the impact you have on the world around you.

Pray: God, thank you for Timberlake Church and the community of believers here. Help each of us to understand the potential impact we have on the community and the world, and motivate us to live a meaningful and influential life. Help us to keep the end in mind.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.