How to Live…

Heard this recently but not sure who to credit for saying it: “If He thought we worth dying for, isn’t He worth living for?”

This is what Christians and non-Christians alike miss daily: living for HIM. Self is such an imposer. Our focus trends toward crossing off lists, getting our needs met, feeling good about self – all else becomes secondary. And our culture reinforces it. How do we break free from our cycle of appeasing self?

“Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36 NIV)

Selfish gain – the root of all this world’s issues. Faithfully living for God is the answer to the same. But we are fickle, sometimes moment to moment.

Yet our heavenly Father is fully faithful. Our role model. Our helper-upper when we fall. Our truth when we’re lost in the lies. Our plan when we’re lost in our purpose. Our best when all we have to give is ‘less than’ in every way. “If we are not faithful, He will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who He is.” (2Timothy 2:13 CEV)

The very best news is that though we will struggle day in and day out to put others first, to put God in His rightful place (far above all we know or can think or can hope) – He puts us first every second of every day. It’s like being in a peaceful field of wildflowers with a gentle breeze – nothing else as far as the eye can see. We are surrounded by a field of grace – grace that envelops us.

Here’s how He calls us to live: “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” (2Timothy 1:8a, 9 NIV)  Grace-full living: accepting His grace in our lives and extending it to others – this helps us dispel self and put Jesus on the throne of our hearts.