What are you doing today to make a difference?

“Life is short. Do something that matters.”

I was sitting in a classroom for a prospective business school student weekend when I heard these words. I laughed to myself. I had a great job. I was living well. But the thing that mattered, that made a positive difference in the lives of others, was leading a Bible study.

From that moment on, I could not shake the fact that God was calling me to do more of what mattered. God was calling me to serve Him with my life every single day.

So often, we fumble through the world trying to figure out what we want to do with our lives. We spend tons of money and time trying to find out what we’re good at and how we can make money doing that very thing. For some, this means years of extracurricular activities in school, a series of majors in college, and a number of jobs until we find what really works.

We set our minds on something in the distance, thinking that if we can just get to a certain point in our careers or in our education, then we’ll have time to do what we love. If tomorrow is not promised, what are we doing TODAY that makes a difference in the world?

While having long-term goals is important, making a daily difference can help us along the way. The best part is, we don’t have to wait until our dreams come true. God can make our passions line up with deeper purpose. We can make a difference by doing what we love now.

Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he said in Ephesians 5:15-16, “So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times” (The Message). Paul understood that following Christ was like walking around with a death sentence. Therefore, if he could be killed at any moment, he might as well make every moment matter.

What would your life look like if you lived like every moment mattered? Perhaps you would take more risks. Maybe you would get started on the thing that you know God has called you to do.

In order to live in a way that impacts the world, you must believe that your life, your whole life, matters to God. It does not matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve fallen. God wants you to know that your life, every moment of it, matters to Him.

When you know that your life matters to God, then you can live on purpose. You can give every moment back to God and impact others.

It’s time for you to decide that your life matters. No one knows which moment may be the last. Seize this moment and let your passions make a positive difference in the world!

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 3:48 PM with the headline "What are you doing today to make a difference?."