2 Peter 1:16-21
This devotional is based on this past Sunday's sermon with the help of sermonshots.com. You can view the sermon here.
Day 1: The Light That Gives Meaning
Devotional:
Have you ever felt like your daily routines and choices don't really matter in the grand scheme of things? This feeling of insignificance can creep into our hearts, making us wonder if anything we do has lasting value.
Without the promise of Christ's return, this feeling would be justified. If this life is all there is—if everything ultimately ends in nothingness—then why does anything matter? But the good news of the gospel shines a powerful light into this darkness.
Peter, who walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry, didn't want us to follow cleverly devised myths. He wanted us to know with certainty that Jesus will return. He points to his own eyewitness experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, where he saw Jesus revealed in glory, confirming that Jesus is indeed the Lord who will return to rule.
This truth changes everything. When we understand that Jesus is coming back, suddenly our lives are infused with eternal significance. The mundane becomes meaningful. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. Every moment matters because it's connected to eternity.
Today, let this truth sink deep into your heart: your life has immense value because Jesus is returning. You are not living for a temporary existence that will be forgotten, but for an eternal purpose that will be remembered and rewarded.
Bible Verse:
"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." - 2 Peter 1:16
Quote of the Day:
"The simple fact that Jesus will return and the dead will be raised and the life to come is going to be directly connected to the life you're currently living is a light that shines in the darkness."
Reflection Question:
How might your perspective on today's activities change if you truly believed that everything you do matters eternally?
Day 2: Connected to Eternity
Devotional:
There's a profound truth that many of us miss in our daily lives: what happens in eternity is directly connected to how we live now. This isn't about earning salvation—that's a gift of grace through faith in Christ. Rather, it's about understanding that our present lives are not disconnected from our future resurrection.
When Jesus returns, we won't be starting from scratch. The Bible teaches that our resurrection life will be connected to our present life. The choices we make, the character we develop, the ways we serve others—all of these things matter eternally.
This truth should transform how we approach each day. That difficult conversation with a family member matters. Your attitude at work matters. How you spend your free time matters. The way you respond to trials matters. Nothing is wasted in God's economy.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. Every act of faith, every choice to obey, every moment of perseverance has eternal significance. This doesn't mean life will be easy—Paul certainly knew suffering—but it does mean that nothing we do for Christ is meaningless.
Today, approach your responsibilities, relationships, and challenges with this perspective: you are building something that will last beyond this life. Your faithfulness now is connected to your future glory.
Bible Verse:
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58
Quote of the Day:
"What's going to happen in the next life is directly linked to what's happening in this life. It's the resurrection life, not the starting from scratch life. And what that means, very simply, is that every act of faith and every act of unbelief matters."
Reflection Question:
Which area of your life feels most meaningless right now, and how does the truth that it's connected to eternity change your perspective?
Day 3: The Weight of Accountability
Devotional:
The truth that Jesus is returning and that our lives matter eternally can be both comforting and challenging. Today, let's consider the challenging aspect: accountability.
Jesus taught that we will give an account for our lives. In Matthew 25, He describes a scene where He separates people based on how they lived—specifically, how they treated others. This isn't about earning salvation through good works, but about demonstrating the reality of our faith through our actions.
This accountability should cause us to pause and reflect. If every moment matters, then we need to acknowledge how often we fall short. How many moments of selfishness, pride, or disobedience have marked our days? The weight of this reality should drive us to our knees in recognition of our need for a Savior.
But here's where the gospel shines brightest: Jesus didn't just come to tell us that everything matters—He came to save us from the weight of our failures. He lived the perfect life we couldn't live and died the death we deserved. Through faith in Him, we receive forgiveness and the power to live differently.
So yes, accountability is real, but so is grace. Let this truth humble you today, driving you to both repentance and gratitude. Your life matters so much that Jesus gave His life for it.
Bible Verse:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." - Matthew 25:31-32
Quote of the Day:
"If every moment matters, I really need a savior. How many moments of sinful rebellion have you had? They all count. They all matter. All of them."
Reflection Question:
If you were to stand before Jesus today and give an account of your life, what areas would you feel most convicted about, and how might this awareness change your choices going forward?
Day 4: The Joy of Significance
Devotional:
Deep in every human heart is a longing for significance—a desire to know that our lives matter. We want to believe that our struggles, our work, our relationships, and our choices count for something beyond the moment.
The good news is that in Christ, they do. When we understand that Jesus is returning and that our present lives are connected to eternity, we discover a profound joy: nothing is wasted. Nothing is meaningless.
Your work matters—whether you're a CEO, a stay-at-home parent, a student, or retired. Your relationships matter—how you love, forgive, and serve others has eternal significance. Even your suffering matters—as you bear one another's burdens, you fulfill the law of Christ.
This truth doesn't just add meaning to the obviously spiritual aspects of life. It transforms how we view everything. That project at work? It matters. The way you speak to your spouse? It matters. How you spend your money? It matters. The attitude you bring to difficult circumstances? It matters.
Today, embrace the joy that comes from knowing your life has real significance. Let this truth energize you to live intentionally, to love deeply, and to serve faithfully, knowing that in Christ, nothing you do is insignificant.
Bible Verse:
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
Quote of the Day:
"We can't bear the thought of all of this being insignificant. We can't bear the thought everything we go through in life has no real meaning or purpose whatsoever. We can't bear that. We can't live that way."
Reflection Question:
What specific aspect of your daily life feels most transformed when you view it through the lens of eternal significance?
Day 5: Living in Light of His Return
Devotional:
As we conclude this week's journey, let's focus on how to practically live in light of Christ's return. When we truly believe that Jesus is coming back and that our lives have eternal significance, it changes everything about how we approach each day.
First, it leads us to examine our lives from an eternal perspective. What am I building my life with? What will last when Jesus returns? Am I investing in things of eternal value, or am I distracted by what's temporary?
Second, it prompts us to identify areas of rebellion or compromise. Where have I been living as if Jesus isn't returning? Where do I need to realign my priorities, attitudes, or actions with God's Word?
Third, it fills us with joy and peace. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus' promises and assures us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We can face uncertainty with confidence, knowing that our lives matter eternally.
Finally, it motivates us to share this hope with others. If Jesus is returning and everything matters, then the most loving thing we can do is help others prepare for that day.
Today, live with the awareness that Jesus could return at any moment. Let this truth fill you with both reverent fear and joyful anticipation. Your life matters more than you can possibly imagine.
Bible Verse:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:26
Quote of the Day:
"The light of Jesus shines in your heart and not only does it convict, but it says, there is so much joy waiting for you down this road."
Reflection Question:
If you knew with certainty that Jesus would return next week, what would you do differently in your life right now?