November 22, 2023 LIVING FOR HIM
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
The strongest pull of our flesh is for us to live for ourselves; to live according to our on likes and dislikes and according to our own understanding. We may even try to work God into our schedule and our plans. These verses are a serious reminder that Christ died for us AND that we have died. Paul addresses this in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” A lot could be said about what it means to die to ourselves and just what that looks like. It is possible for a believer to revert back to living for himself, but that is certainly not God’s plan. The picture of baptism is one dying and then being raised to new life. Paul said it is the love of Christ that controlled him-and should control all believers. Think about it: Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and died a cruel death so that you and I could be forgiven of our sins and be restored to our Heavenly Father! Knowing what great price was paid for our salvation, how could we not live for the One who died for us. It is a red-letter day for us when we come to know in the deepest part of our being that Christ died FOR US. Not only did He die for us, He also came to live in us. Colossians 3:3 tells us “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” To live for Christ is a heart issue; what are our overarching desires in life-what are we pursuing-and what motivates us. Back to dying to ourselves: accepting Christ as our Savior means we are turning from, or dying to our ways and receiving Him as our life; we died. It is God’s plan that we live our life in Him as He lives His life in us. However, we have the choice of walking according to the Spirt, or we can choose to walk according to our flesh-who we use to be. So, it is ever so important for the love of Christ to control us and to live for Him who died and rose again for us. Living for Him means that it is my desire to live a life that honors Him and is pleasing to Him.
Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the.”
Blessings, Buddy
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
The strongest pull of our flesh is for us to live for ourselves; to live according to our on likes and dislikes and according to our own understanding. We may even try to work God into our schedule and our plans. These verses are a serious reminder that Christ died for us AND that we have died. Paul addresses this in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” A lot could be said about what it means to die to ourselves and just what that looks like. It is possible for a believer to revert back to living for himself, but that is certainly not God’s plan. The picture of baptism is one dying and then being raised to new life. Paul said it is the love of Christ that controlled him-and should control all believers. Think about it: Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and died a cruel death so that you and I could be forgiven of our sins and be restored to our Heavenly Father! Knowing what great price was paid for our salvation, how could we not live for the One who died for us. It is a red-letter day for us when we come to know in the deepest part of our being that Christ died FOR US. Not only did He die for us, He also came to live in us. Colossians 3:3 tells us “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” To live for Christ is a heart issue; what are our overarching desires in life-what are we pursuing-and what motivates us. Back to dying to ourselves: accepting Christ as our Savior means we are turning from, or dying to our ways and receiving Him as our life; we died. It is God’s plan that we live our life in Him as He lives His life in us. However, we have the choice of walking according to the Spirt, or we can choose to walk according to our flesh-who we use to be. So, it is ever so important for the love of Christ to control us and to live for Him who died and rose again for us. Living for Him means that it is my desire to live a life that honors Him and is pleasing to Him.
Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the.”
Blessings, Buddy
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