What’s Living For?
Living for a Cause Greater Than Yourself
It just seems to be human nature. As we grow in wealth and ability, our confidence moves from complete trust in the Lord to trust in our resources.
Can you imagine what our marriages,
families, churches, and communities
would be like if more of us were walking
in God’s unconditional Love?
“…they were taking their meals together with gladness an sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
Hebrews 13:… “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”
Jesus said “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16).
God the Father, through the Holy Spirit abides with you forever, NOT sometimes.
Don’t consider what your feelings tell you. As long as you haven’t willfully rejected Christ and His sacrifice of salvation for you on the Cross, the Holy Spirit cannot and WILL NOT leave you!
Some Christians think the Holy Spirit sometimes goes on a break, or takes a recess just because at such times they don’t “feel” His presence.
You don’t have to “feel” God to know that He’s with you.
*Rather, you ought to KNOW that He’s with you always, because the Word says so. Jesus said, “…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). He didn’t say, “I’m with you only when you can “feel” that I am.”
** Many have reduced their experience of Christianity to the carnal realm of feeling, and that is so wrong, for we walk by faith and not by sensory perceptions (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Today we find many Christian believers living a status quo relationship with God that is more characterized as “business as usual” than a life demonstrating God’s power.
Our focus is often more concerned with improving our standard of living than improving the Kingdom of God through our circle of influence.
* While this takes place, millions upon millions die without the saving grace of Christ.
* Many other Christians die never experiencing the freedom in Christ that His blood paid for.
* God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves – a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives.
Its no surprise how God keeps his promises. He says he will keep us, never leave us and be here for us and he is.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Just a side note:
In 1979 Bob Dylan recorded the song “Gotta Serve Somebody.” For those who listen with biblically informed ears the refrain echoes Paul and Jesus:
Paul: “You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness” (Romans 6:16).
Jesus: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).
Dylan’s refrain:
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed, You’re gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
This is one of the truest songs Dylan has written.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
The funny part is we have God’s promise, but we are the ones who turn away from him ” like we have the power”.
* We get so wrapped up in what we are doing and believe that it is our doing that we let go of God.
* We can be so backwards sometimes that we will let go of something eternal for things that will pass away..
This is His plan for your life. The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life.
Phil. 3:10
This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves. Ask God what He wants to achieve through your life today. And consider yourself dead already to the consequences of what that might mean for you.
Will you take your part as a person who influences other people?
The only way other people are going to experience the reality of our Christianity is by our LOVE.
Not everyone sees our devotion to God, but the LOVE we show others is the visible evidence of our faith.
“But whoever has the world’s goods,and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:17
Nothing can happen today, or any other day, that God isn’t aware of or in control of anything that he isn’t able to bring you through. ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you!’ Hebrews 13:5
Yes, those amazing truths—that God makes much of you—should thrill your soul! But why?
The answer to that question makes all the difference.
***If the answer is, “Because I’m at the bottom, and I love to be made much of,” you’re not born again.
*** If the answer is, “Because it reveals more of God and makes me know him, treasure him, love him, be satisfied in him, more than I ever dreamed!” then you are born again.
Lord Jesus, help me know You, treasure You, love You, be more satisfied in You, more than I can ever dream each and every day. In Jesus Name. AMEN