When you really begin to live for God

When you really begin to live for God, your selfish lifestyle is replaced with a lifestyle of servant hood. You’re born as a self-serving creature. From the day you were born, your world revolved around yourself. James 4:1-4 what causes fights and quarrels among you? They come from your desires that battle within you. You want something but don’t get it. You covet, but you cannot have what you want. Ephesians 2:3 all have lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of your flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, you were by nature objects of wrath.

You know that being in Christ means you’re different. You’re not supposed to live for yourself anymore. Like all struggle with the old person you’re trying to cease to be. You love Jesus, but you want to hold on to your old friends even when they do not lead you closer to Jesus. You love Jesus, but want to hold on to your own independence even when it brings you no real freedom. You love Jesus, but do not want to lose the respect of others in elevated positions even though their respect does not make you grow spiritually. You love Jesus, but do not want to give up your earthly idols, those things that are often more to your glory than God’s.

Once you’ve experienced the Truth and you’re not any different than you were before, something’s wrong. If you’re living a life that’s full of your selfish features, something’s wrong. You need to reassess who’s in charge of your life. Your reason for existing isn’t just all about you.

You know, you’re surrounded by the spiritual world, that’s filled with powerful beings, including angels. They’re amazing. They have amazing power, and amazing responsibilities. But do you realize that they don’t exist to serve themselves? Their whole existence is about service – to God, and to you. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. See the pattern? Being in Christ means you live for Him, not yourself.

 Ask yourself For whom do you live and what are you living for? If the answer is “SELF,” then you need to reconsider life’s coarse. Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourself to someone to obey him, you are a slave to the one whom you obey--whether you are slave to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? There’s no 3rd choice on this one. You either serve God with your life, or you’re serving yourself and being used by the devil for his purposes.

In Christ, real greatness comes from service. After He washed His disciples’ feet, Jesus said to them: "You call me ’Teacher’ and ’Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:13-17)