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WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?
TUESDAY, APRIL 18
Philippians 1:24-26

Romans 1:8-15

 

“…for your furtherance

and joy of faith.”

 

WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?
 
Every day that we wake up and get out of bed is another day that the Lord has given us to live. It is another day that we are allowed to exist in this mortal body, another day where life goes on. Do we ever stop to think: What are we living for?
 
Paul’s heart’s desire was to be with Christ. Yet he knew he could not ignore his calling and just wish for death, for that would be sinful and irresponsible. Paul knew that God’s will for him was to live and to serve Him. He had to follow God’s timetable for his life, and not try to forge his own. He acknowledged that although his wish was to depart and be with Christ, it was nonetheless better for him to stay as it was more needful for the furtherance and joy of faith of the Christians at Philippi. Paul’s life was all about service and doing the will of God. His desire was for the Philippians’ spiritual advancement and profit. He wanted them to come to the same understanding and joy of faith that he experienced. Out of love for them, he wanted to return to them and do that which was most needful for the church. This is what a life in Christ ought to be, where we endeavour to “deny self, and take up [our] cross daily, and follow [Christ]” (Luke 9:23).
 
With the life that God has given us, we must seek to obey Christ and follow His will each day. As long as we are “abiding in the flesh,” we must always seek God’s will to know what is most needful for us to do, for Jesus’ sake. We must strive to be a better friend, better worker, better family member, so that we can bear a good testimony for Christ and bring glory to His name. We no longer live for any selfish indulgences or seek to fulfil our own petty wants and needs. We must have spiritual priorities in our lives, not carnal ones.
 
Is this the consuming desire that we have in life – to know Christ and to make Him known? Do we love God’s people and want to live for their sakes? Do we want to do more to bless the lives of those around us? Do we seek to do all we can to live for Christ, or are we still living for ourselves?
 
THOUGHT: What shall I seek to accomplish for the Lord today?

PRAYER: Father, may Thou help me to live for Thee, and not for self

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