“He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him Who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
That verse was a part of the text that one of our pastors taught from last Saturday night. Then it was one of many mentiond in a blog I read yesterday. Then it wouldn’t get out of my head. I wrote it down on a note card and have been turning it over and over in my mind today. When a Scripture keeps turning up, perhaps the Lord is trying to tell you something, no?
Think about the words that Paul wrote above. Think about how they impact each and every one of us. Think of how they impact you.
“He died for all.” The “He” here is Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world, the Eternal Word, the Messiah, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God. This “He” died for all. As my pastor says, in the Greek, all means all and that’s all all means. Everyone. You…me…your wife…your kids…your friends…your enemies. The most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He died for us all. He died the death He should never have tasted for you and me. Does that give you pause?
Why? So “that those who live should no longer live for themselves.” Does that convict you? It did me. Who are you living for? Think about that. Seriously think about that. Jesus died that you could have “life abundant”, and that life is not found in the abundance of possessions, but in living for Him. Do we believe that? Maybe more importantly, do our lives show that? Are we living for Him?
I saw a commercial last night about the day after Thanksgiving shopping megapalooza insanity. Stores are opening at 3 a.m. Why? So we can get deals on more stuff that most of us don’t need. So we can spend money most of us don’t have, and make that money go further. Think about this: the commercials regarding Thanksgiving are not about giving thanks for what we have, they’re essentially designed to get you un-thankful with what you have so you’ll go buy more of it. Huh? Ok, that was a rant, but my point is when we’re consumed with consumerism, can we say we’re living for Him? I say that to my own shame.
Lastly, we are to live “for Him Who died for” us “and then rose again.” Paul said that for him “to live is Christ.” He is the life and light of men, and only in Him can we find that which we are truly seeking. We can fill the hole for a moment with other things, maybe for a lifetime, but in the end, that hole will remain forever a hole if it’s not filled with Jesus.
Are you living for Him? Is your life all about Him? Seriously. What are you unwilling to give up for Him? Have you answered the call He has on your life? Are you willing to?
The Wading Pool 