Thursday, April 5, 2007

He died on our behalf...

Easter

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."

The reason Jesus died and rose again for you, was so that your life-focus would shift from yourself to His purposes in this world!

You were created for His purposes (see Ephesians 2:10), but your fallen, sinful, self-focused life was preventing you from living out your reason for existing. So Jesus "died.on [your] behalf". He died in your place, taking the sin and guilt you had built up, and experiencing God's judgment for you.

And He also "rose again on [your] behalf". His resurrection life in you enables you to live in a way that brings God glory.

Do you see what the Lord is saying to you today? You do not "live for [yourself]" anymore. Now you live for Him! Your life purpose is no longer to get as much, do as much, travel as much for yourself as you can. Now your purpose is to honour Him, love Him, and point people to Him as much as you can.

Replace "all" with your name: "He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."

Written by John North of Ambassadors For Christ. You can hear John Weekday mornings at 6.05am on FM103.2 and in our Audio Lounge.

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