One
died for all…that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but
unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again.
—2 Corinthians 5:15-16
Here we have a threefold life described. First
is the life of the Christian who lives according to his old nature: he lives
for himself alone. The second is the life of a true Christian: he lives wholly
for Christ. Third is the life of Christ in heaven: He lives wholly for us.
Many Christians need to be convinced of the
foolishness of living only for themselves. At conversion, they tend to think
more of their own salvation and less of the glory of God and the claim that
Christ, who has redeemed us with His precious blood, has upon them. Many
Christians live for themselves, content with doing a little for the Master. The
believer who realizes his high calling and the privilege and blessedness of
consecrating His life entirely to God’s service will find true happiness.
The great hindrance to such a life is
unbelief, which says that complete submission to God is impossible. But when
the truth takes hold of us—“Christ in heaven lives wholly for me; He will
impart His life to me and will enable me to live wholly for Him”—then we will
be able to say joyfully, “Dear Lord Jesus, from this moment let my prayer each day
be, ‘Wholly for Christ, wholly for Christ.’”
Dear brother or sister, let nothing less than
this be your earnest desire, your prayer, and your firm expectation. Say,
“Christ has not only died for me, but He also lives in heaven to keep and
sanctify me, His purchased possession.” Ponder this wonderful thought: that
Christ will keep you as a member of His body, to work and live for Him. Pray
for grace to live wholly for God in seeking souls and in serving His people.
Take time from day to day to be so united to Christ in the inner man that you
can say with all your heart, “I live wholly for Him, who gave Himself wholly
for me and who now lives in heaven wholly for me.”
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