1-8-18 Would You Still Do It?

From January 1-3, I was lucky to go to Passion in Atlanta with a few people on my team. For most of us it was our first time going and an incredible experience. We grew closer to God through amazing speakers and great worship. The first night, Levi Lusko spoke from 2 Corinthians about kicking the bucket list. He says that we shouldn’t focus all our time and effort on doing cool things and going cool places.

There is nothing wrong with traveling to Europe or going skydiving. The problem arises when we put our personal adventures first in our lives.

Would you still do things if you couldn’t post about them?

Would you still go to a big sports game if you couldn’t post about it and make others jealous?

Thirsting for likes has you doing something for the opposite reason you intended to do it in the first place. By needing affirmation on social media, we are putting the approval of others above the enjoyment of experiencing the world.

Levi challenged us to move past this bucket list mentality and look to God. Follow Jesus instead of your dreams because He will give you the desires of your heart.

The more you look forward to the next world, the less you will need from this one. What’s next is greater than what’s now. We have an eternity to look forward to in heaven and yet we spend our time driving across the country instead of excelling at what we are called to do.

Levi gave us 3 takeaways to help kick the bucket list:

1. The less you need from this world, the more you can do for it.
2. The less you need from this world, the more you can withstand pain in it.
3. The less you need from this world, the more you can enjoy it.

When our perspective shifts from needing fun experiences, we start reflecting greatness. You will find yourself helping those around you. You will be able to take on hard parts of your life because the promised prize is greater than the present problem. Then, we will be able to enjoy the things that God put on this earth.

Don’t pursue your bucket lists first, put God first.

Ask yourself: Would you still do something if you couldn’t post about it?

^“16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

-JP