Heaven Ward

05/06/24 – 05/13/24

A Fulfilled Life

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/11/24

Read Romans 15:14-22.

In our culture today, people are desperately searching for fulfillment through careers, finances, relationships, or false religion. But Paul tells us how to pursue fulfillment the right way—by following a God-given dream self-sacrificially and giving Him the glory the whole way.

The New Testament declares that every disciple of Jesus is a priest with a sacred calling on his or her life. In the Old Testament, priests were responsible for offering animal sacrifices for sin, pointing to the need for a Savior (see Hebrews 10:11-18). Today, our final, perfect sacrifice for sins has been made: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Yet, we are still called “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Why? Our job is still to point people to Christ, but our offerings are thank offerings. We joyfully sacrifice our time, talent, and treasures in proper worship to God, our Redeemer.

Whatever your vocation, God is calling you to perform your priestly duty to Him on a daily basis. Your priestly duty might be sacrificing your comfort to witness for Christ, serving your family, or giving sacrificially. Whatever it may be, let it be all for the glory of God out of the overflow of a grateful heart.

Paul accomplished so much for the sake of the Gospel, but he never took the credit. He said, “I glory in Christ Jesus; God did it all” (see Romans 15:17-19). May we share the same heart cry—to live a life of worship and adoration to the one who gave it all for us!

Prayer: God, You are my great reward. Help me to share this joy with those around me, pointing them as a priest to the glorious hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God” (Romans 15:16b-17).