Following JesusSample

FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST

Paul says that his reason for living is the ministry God has called him to do. Jesus Christ will be magnified in his body whether it is by his death or his life Philippians 1:20. What does it mean to magnify Jesus in my body? Jesus is magnified when we live by His principles and teachings so that our life reflects the character of Jesus. This passage is not about just doing ministry, but living our life as a ministry. It is not something I do for Jesus, but a life I live for Jesus.

Our primary witness is our life, led in ordinary day-to-day situations, with the values of Jesus. Hence Paul could confidently say that if he lives, his witness to Jesus progresses. However, our life needs to be interpreted to those who are curious as to why our value systems and purposes are different from theirs, and out of this our verbal witness for Jesus grows.

For us to be able to live this life, we need to live for heaven. As Paul says, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When we die, we go to be with Jesus, and it is a celebration. We do realize that for those who are left behind, the separation is painful, but for the person dying it is the ultimate victory, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:57. However, we do not seek death because our life is a fruitful ministry for the kingdom Philippians 1:24.

When we live for the kingdom of God, of which we are members, we do not compete for material things. As James says in his epistle, it is this competing for material things that breaks relationships between people.

“What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war.” James 4:1-2

When we have moved away from this pursuit of the material, our relationships with people are strengthened and people can see Jesus Christ in us. Our life needs to be the primary witness for Jesus, followed by words. Without the life, the words lose their power.

In my experience, when I speak of the love of God, many cannot understand it since they have never experienced or seen selfless love in their lives. But when they experience this love through me, they begin to understand the love of God for mankind. When we follow Jesus, we renounce fighting over material things. Hence, when one individual came to Jesus asking Him to settle his property dispute, Jesus declined to be involved (Luke 12:13-14).

Is following Jesus the dominant motive in your life?