Bible MBASample

Living for Him

And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. (2 Corinthians 5:15 AMPC) 

We meet here with the question, “who are you living for?” It is a pivotal question because a man cannot accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary and still continue to live for himself. Such a man would be a fraud. If we accept that he died for us, then we must no longer live for ourselves but for him. 

What then does it mean to live for Him? It is simply to lay down our own agendas, and ambitions and take up the pursuit of His own. Now, let no one kid you, such a decision has serious implications. Anyone who lays aside his own agendas to pursue the Lord's will find his life dramatically disrupted. 

Too often, the fear of this disruption keeps many from truly yielding their lives to the Lord. They settle for half measures: they may give Him control of their marriage, for instance, but let Him know they intend to handle their business by themselves. Yet He warns us “... If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. (Luke 9:23 AMPC). 

What will it mean to live for God in your business: To lose sight of your own interests, and to conform wholly to His example? What might that mean for your business? Whose interest does your business serve? Yours or the Lord's? 

Living for, and being conformed to the Lord is a radical idea, but it is the only way that we can live acceptably before the Lord. 

"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." (Romans 12:2 AMPC)