Start Here

 Living for Christ, Not Ourselves

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

 Living for Christ, Not Ourselves

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:15 
“…and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Devotional Thought -Day 14

What drives your decisions, your direction, and your daily life? For Paul, it was not ambition, comfort, or fear—it was Christ’s love. The apostle explains that Jesus died so that those who are made alive in Him would live for Him. The goal of the cross is not simply that we would be forgiven, but that we would be transformed—liberated from self-centered living to pursue a Christ-centered life.

Paul was overwhelmed by the love Christ demonstrated on the cross. It was not a mere emotional response, but a settled conviction. “The love of Christ controls us,” he wrote, meaning it constrained, directed, and propelled him forward. Paul understood that Jesus died not just for his benefit, but in his place. He knew that to look at the crucified Christ was to see his own sin judged and his old self nailed to the cross. And in the light of that sacrifice, living for himself was no longer an option.


Living for Christ means that every area of life—our plans, priorities, and pursuits—is shaped by our Redeemer’s love. The cross does not just cleanse us; it claims us. The One who died and rose again did not save us so that we could continue living according to our preferences and pleasures. He died so that we might live a new life in joyful surrender to His will.

This verse is not a burden—it’s a breakthrough. It reminds us that freedom is not found in self-indulgence, but in self-surrender. Jesus broke the chains of sin not to leave us in spiritual aimlessness, but to redirect us to a higher calling: living for the glory of the One who died and rose again for us.

So today, ask yourself: What defines your life? Is it driven by comfort, control, or the applause of others? Or is it constrained—captivated—by the overwhelming love of Christ? To live for Him is not a loss but the highest gain. His love is not just your rescue; it is your reason.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for dying in my place and rising again to give me new life. I no longer want to live for myself. Captivate me with Your love. Empower me by Your Spirit to live each day in surrender and purpose for You. Amen.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

Related

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Get Updates

Three trees journal

Do you know what you want to change? Do you know what keeps you from making significant progress in your life? This worksheet, in combination with our video teaching, will help you to learn how to: identify the situations in your life, understand why you react to them the way that you do, lean on God and His Word, and begin to respond in godly habits that will cause your life to flourish and be fruitful.

Gratitude journal

When was the last time someone said thank you to you? When was the last time you said thank you to someone else? So many people today struggle with a lack of thankfulness and ingratitude. This leads to struggles with complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Gratitude and thankfulness provide a powerful remedy for these problems. This gratitude journal helps us to identify what we should be grateful for and what we do as a result of seeing life as a gift.

God's grace prayer journal

Do you struggle with applying the truth that you learn during your study of God’s word? This God’s grace prayer journal will allow you to focus on gratitude and live in contentment in life. The journal pages encourage you to observe what you are learning from the Bible text, evaluate how you have failed to live according to the truths stated, seek forgiveness, and develop godly plans for change.

Giving hope

Do you struggle with the lack of hope? Do you find yourself struggling with doubt and insecurity during times of great challenge? During those times, you need to find your rest and assurance in pondering, personalizing, praying, and practicing what God’s Word says. In the short devotional, spend time meditating and studying each of these passages. Write down whatever comes to mind in the spaces below. And let God speak to you.

Discovering Godly patterns

One of the keys to growing in Christlikeness in our lives is to unearth and discover, and biblically evaluate our thinking patterns, speaking, and acting. This worksheet will help you be honest and specific about areas in your life that are not meeting biblical standards in thinking, speaking, and acting.

Counseling review journal

The God who began a good work in you will continue it through your lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face-to-face. God works for us, and God works in us. He enables us to become more like Christ every single day. This work is progressive and continual in this life. This worksheet helps us review and evaluate gains made during counseling and discipleship, show gratitude to God for what he has done, and develop plans for future growth and change.

Conflict review worksheet

There probably is not a day that goes by that we do not have some level of conflict with others. This worksheet helps us focus on the problem and not the person. It helps us evaluate how we have handled a dispute and how we should deal with it moving forward.

Bible study notes sheet

Do you ever struggle with doing a Bible study or journaling the key ideas from your reading? This Bible Study Note Sheet will encourage you to ponder and meditate on Scripture. Also, God’s Word is meant for you, so this worksheet will help you personalize what you are learning. It will also guide you in learning to pray God’s Word, and finally, it will encourage you to put into practice the principles and promises you find in reading the Word of God.

Anger journal

Anger is a significant issue for so many people. People often stuff or spew their anger, but very few learn to study their anger. This journal assignment will help you to do just that. It will help you understand, evaluate, and respond to your anger in better ways.

4 Steps to rethinking a problem

Do you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed with problems? Do you find yourself struggling with thinking clearly during a challenging situation? This four-step approach to rethinking a problem will help.

4P problem-solving approach worksheet

Problems can seem overwhelming. When we are in the midst of a significant crisis, many of us struggle with defining the problem and implementing helpful solutions. This worksheet helps us to identify three unbiblical and unproductive ways of handling problems. It also encourages us to destroy problems, not people, as we deal with issues in a biblical and God-honoring way.