Flipping through the pages of one of my very favorite books (Developing The Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell), these twenty three words caused me to pause for a moment of reflection:

“There is hardly a higher compliment you can pay an individual than to help that person be useful and find satisfaction and significance.” 

Usefulness.
Satisfaction.
Significance.

What a combination!

While those three words can — and do — hold great value in a variety of settings, I found myself thinking of them in terms of helping people realize  their worth through a personal relationship with Jesus.

I cannot even come close to imagining what the apostle Paul must have felt on  the inside which caused him to pen these words:

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart: for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:7-8)**

Purpose caused Paul to hold these people in his heart: the purpose of bringing people to Christ and helping them find their satisfaction and significance in Jesus.

• He knew what it was to be without Christ.
• He knew what it meant for others to be without Him.
• He knew what it meant for people to discover and live for Jesus.

And because of what Paul knew and felt on the inside, his life was molded by the Son of God who kept on giving him the motivation and ability to live that way.

In a word, that’s one challenging way to live.

Take Time To Reflect…

As you think about living a purpose filled life, what do the words “useful,” “significant” and “satisfaction” mean to you?

What do they mean to you in Christ?  Or, what should they mean to you?

What do those words hold for you in terms of your relationship with others… and in your prayers for others?

All The Best To You!

May you and those you love experience an ever growing sense of satisfaction and significance in life … in and through the Person of Jesus Christ! 

Joy
Sharing the meaning of life with others
by sharing the Person who gives true life
to all who choose to seek life in him.
© Lee Wise

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**Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™