Last night I enjoyed attending the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet, with football players from Pop Warner all the way up to the NFL being honored.

The big award (Bronko Nagurski) went to NC State’s defensive end, Bradley Chubb, who was recognized as this year’s top defender in college football.

The keynote speaker was Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart, who happened to be booked to speak way before anyone knew his team would be competing in this year’s Playoff. He was obviously very excited about the season and ended up having some really interesting things to share.

This is only his second year in charge of the Bulldogs, but he’s an impressive young coach who appears to be very likable and has done a great job putting his team in position to win a Championship.

Among the many inspiring words he spoke to the crowd, one particular saying really resonated with me. He talked about the difference between success and significance, and how he’s encouraged his team to do something significant.

He went on to explain how Georgia teams in the past have had success, but they haven’t done anything significant in a while.

Part of accomplishing something significant is standing out as memorable and worthwhile. The Georgia players seem to have bought into this philosophy, as their season has gone from a successful start to now have the chance for a significant-finish.

The philosophy of pursuing significance over success has personal meaning to me, as it’s what my Grandpa prepared to have read at his funeral to encourage those attending. I still think about the difference between the two today, so hearing Coach Smart talk about it last night was really special.

Having a significant impact on the football field is one thing, but living out our lives this way is worth unpacking.

Each day, we can wake up with the mindset that we’re going to pursue purpose and how to make a difference in someone else’s life. Success is nice, but significance brings meaning to life – especially when rooted in faith in Jesus.

We were created to love God and love others while we bring Him glory. A life with that focus results in powerful significance because not only will we have meaning and purpose, but our lives will also lead to eternal significance.

When we submit to the Spirit of God within us, we shift from pursuing success to finding significance. Our lives look dramatically different, and the fruit becomes evident when we allow the Spirit to truly take over.

Galatians 5:22-26 (ESV) explains what this looks like: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Life in the Spirit leads to significance. Today, let’s move past living for worldly success…and strive to live for so much more. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray You would help me rely on Your Spirit to guide me into a life of significance that bears great fruit. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.