A Life Well-Lived

What is the measure of a life that has been well-spent? How do you know if you are wasting your life or spending it in ways that really matter? In our current culture, we often measure it by several things; usefulness, busyness, position, adventure and excitement, or personal happiness. Wherever you are, right now, in your life - how do you look at the way things are going for you? Are you living well in God's sight? How can you know?

A Life Devoted to God is a Life Well-Lived

• Think of all the people over the ages who have sought to know what a "good life" is (Luke 10:25-28)

• Sometimes the direction we do go, or think we should go is not the way God wants us to go

(Acts 9:1-4; Phil.3:4-6; Acts 22:3; 2 Cor. 11:24-28)

• How do we get to the well-lived type of life? (2 Tim.4:6-8)

Devotion to God is What Really Matters - "I have fought the good fight"

• The focus of our life can so easily become on the things passing away (1 John 2:17; Ecc.2:9-11)

• Like Paul, fight for what will be a time well-spent (1 Tim.6:12; Matt.10:34-39; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 9:59-62)

Devotion to God is Something That Everyone Can Do - "I have finished the race"

• What about Anna? (Luke 2:36-38)

• Paul talked about his race, we can all be a part and enter the race (1 Cor.9:24-27; Heb.12:1-2)

• Think about what Jesus asks of you to be able to have a well-lived life (Matt. 7:21; 5:3-9; 10:32-33)

Devotion to God takes many outward forms and inward commitments - "I have kept the faith"

• Keeping it means contending for it (Jude 3) How are you doing that now in 2017? (2 Tim.2:2)

• Worshipping, working, and waiting (Acts 20)

Falling Down - Getting Up - Finding Reward

• What if my life has not been what it should be? (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Phil 3:13-14)

• The reward that is waiting for us is what motivates to live well, as God defines it (1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev.21 :4. 22:3)

• A life well- lived is purposeful, deliberate, and sacrificing (1 Pet.3:10-12)