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Transcript

The Longing to Make a Deep and Lasting Impact · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we wrap up this week, looking at the longings of the human heart we all share.
• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to look today at the longing to make a deep and lasting impact.
• 0:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: God has a plan to use you in ways far beyond what you could ask or imagine.
• 0:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: A plan for you to make a deep and lasting impact in the world.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we make space for God to speak and lead today, may He give us a deeper sense of purpose and calling in Him.
• 0:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: our verse for today comes from Matthew 25 verse 21 scripture says well done good and faithful servant you have been faithful over a little I will set you over match enter into the joy of your master
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: People often ask a common question when it looks like their time on earth is drawing to a close.
• 1:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Did my life matter?
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have you ever wondered that?
• 1:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have you ever taken a minute to look back on your life and wonder if all your efforts will mean a thing when you're gone?
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all dream of being a great success.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: No children playing sport in their backyard, fantasize about hanging up the towel after high school.
• 2:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: They dream of making it pro.
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: No musician dreams about playing to a handful of people.
• 2:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: They see themselves on a massive stage in front of thousands of screaming fans.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all have a longing to make an impact in this world.
• 2:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: We all desire to make a difference to the degree that we will be remembered when we're gone.
• 2:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: God designed us all with this longing, while having the perfect plan to satisfy it.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: The problem is that we have twisted what success really looks like.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've made success into something prideful, an idea constrained to the ways of this world.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've been living under the notion that making an impact is all about ourselves.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: You see, making a lasting impact doesn't necessarily mean you're known by the entire population, have books written about you, or are even a success at all in the eyes of the world.
• 3:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Success is solely defined by God.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: and solely achieved by your faithfulness to whatever he has called you to.
• 3:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: You are meant for the impact that faithfulness to God brings, not an impact wrought with struggle for achievement by the world's standards.
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible clearly defines success as being faithful to what God has spoken.
• 3:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 2521, God says, well done, good and faithful servant.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much, enter into the joy of your master.
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Your desire to make an impact will only be satisfied by living in obedience to God's will for you.
• 4:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's his plan, we're all a part of.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not our own.
• 4:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: God has brought us into the glorious narrative that has been playing out from the foundation of the earth.
• 4:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Being faithful to your page in God's grand narrative has an eternal impact, more important and long lasting than anything you could achieve on your own.
• 4:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: One day, all of the grand stories of what man kind has done in pursuit of our own glory will be brought to nothing.
• 4:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: One king will stand above all.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus Christ will be given His reward and we will reign alongside Him forever.
• 5:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Be faithful first to love God and then to love others with compassion and humility.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: You have a chance to lead people into eternal life.
• 5:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: You have a chance to store up your treasure in heaven where math and rust will not destroy.
• 5:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: You have a chance today to make a deep and lasting impact beyond anything you can imagine.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: allow God to define your identity and purpose, experience the joy and fulfillment that can only be found in the whole hearted communion with your heavenly Father.
• 6:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin.
• 6:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take a moment to reflect on the life of Jesus.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow what Scripture says about Jesus to establish a true definition of success.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Philippians 2 verses 5 through 8 says, have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
• 6:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death
• 7:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: and next, take a moment to surrender your notion of success and impact and center your life around God's truth.
• 8:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And last, what plans does God have for you today?
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: How can you love him and others well?
• 9:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: In what way can you impact eternity?
• 9:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is the perfect example of what it looks like to make a lasting impact because he was wholly surrendered to the will of the Father.
• 9:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: At the end of his ministry, he had only a few followers that stood by him.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: He never wrote a book or even traveled more than a few hundred miles from where he was born.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than considering him successful, the world killed him.
• 10:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: But he made the biggest impact of anyone in all of history.
• 10:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Live like Jesus today.
• 10:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Live solely for the opinion of God.
• 10:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: and find your satisfaction in being faithful to what he has called you to.
• 10:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: May your day be filled with the abundant life that comes from surrender to the perfect plans of God.
• 11:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast.
• 11:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with verse 15.
• 11:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: If God is using this podcast in a meaningful way in your life, would you consider supporting our ministry?
• 11:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are able to reach millions of people around the world through this podcast, emails, our app, and website all because of generous donors.
• 11:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you already support First 15, thank you for making this possible.
• 11:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if you'd like to help with either a one-time gift or becoming a First 15 monthly partner, head over to supportfirst15.org, that supportfirst15.org.
• 11:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.