At the end of the day, what really matters?

Since I have written last, I have had many thoughts about our God and what it means to "Bless the Lord".  What is interesting is that I find it rather easy to "bless the Lord" with my words, and say the things that are most appropriate, or most "Christ-like", but the thing I have wrestled with is, what about my actions?  What about my thoughts?  What about my innermost desires?  Is God "blessed" because they line up with His will?  It seems so easy to say the things that we are "supposed" to say because we are disciples of Christ, but the question is, is God really blessed if the rest of me doesn't line up with truth?

The aim of our instruction, Paul tells us, is to love out of a pure heart, to have a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Tim 1:5)  It is not sufficient to be followers of Christ in our language alone, but in all of our actions, attitudes and thoughts.  How else could we maintain a "good conscience and a sincere faith" before our Father who sees all and knows all? 

The truth is, this is another reminder of the greatness of the Gospel in my life.  I am called to "glorify my Father who is in heaven", all the while knowing that my broken, marred, weak flesh cannot do it perfectly.  I need the righteousness of Christ to give me the ability to "glorify God" at all.  Yes, we can get it right occasionally, but perfectly?  Not a chance.

I was writing my daughter yesterday, and I realized even as I wrote that the conversation applied to me as well.  Perfection is not our goal as disciples of Christ because it has already been gained - I cannot add to the perfection of Christ.  However, in fleshing out what it means to follow Christ, I should continue to pursue excellence in every area of my life.  It is a progressing goal that allows for the flesh I still struggle with, but also does not allow me to be satisfied with failure. 

Well, the question was, "at the end of the day, what really matters?", and my thought today is that I seek to love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might, and to love my neighbor as myself" not just in word, but also in deed and in truth!