I live for God.

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[video=youtube;z4wojcSO9Ww]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4wojcSO9Ww[/video]

WE are the Body of Christ. To live for Him to me means to allow Him to use me and my life for whatever purpose HE wills. He is worthy of my praise. He desires that I come to Him with my concerns for others and myself in prayer. He desires that I study His Word so that it becomes my heart. But that is not enough.

Jesus said: "If you love me, keep my commands." (John 14:15) His commands to us were to love God above all, love one another and to go share the gospel, right? For me sharing the gospel means more than just talking about it because that's what HE did. He didn't just talk. He cared. He listened. He did what was in His power to do in the way of feeding, healing, restoring. He ACTED...to the point of death. He still does. Many times He wants to use us to do those things and we need to be willing to step up.

It means that I share what I have with those in need. It means that I pray for those in need. It means I cry with/comfort those who are hurting. It means I lovingly share truth with those who have lost the way or are still trying to find it. It means helping/protecting those who are unable to help themselves. It means that I battle against evil in His power and strength.

It means living out HIS love, and for me love is a verb. When we first begin this walk, we are learning to hear His voice (John 10:27 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.). Funny thing, after a time, right about the time the Spirit in us begins to speak to us about a thing, our eyes have become much like His and we can already see what needs to be done. THEN we have to DO it. Why?

Because James said that NOT doing what we know we should is just as sinful as doing things we know we shouldn't:

James 4:17 - If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.
 
error said:
I hear so many people are saying this all the time-I live for God. Blah blah...

But what it means to live for God? What does it mean to you? Is it only about reading your Bible and praying? Is it about making the right choices in life?

I see so many people saying I live for God-but they do nothing to help others. They don't do important things. It is easy to quote the Bible and say Amen or Hallelujah... But what about other things-helping others, fighting for the good things? I'm so sick of passive christians (including myself). I'm not satisfied. I long to make a difference (even just a little one) in this world. But to be honest-I have no idea where to start...
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Fantastic post! I've been thinking a lot about this lately.

Coming here to CC is great. Trying to lift others up in Christ and being uplifted serves an important purpose. But I want to do more as well. That's why I think it's still very important to have physical fellowship and prayer with others, praying that God would guide the fellowship to doing missions to glorify Him.

The last church I attended had some projects to help displaced families and former addicts. We would fix meals, paint facilities, etc. It was very satisfying to lend a helping hand.
 
Ugly said:
Its funny how many Christians say 'when i get enough money, then i'll be able to do Gods work'. 'Then i can give to church, charities, feed the poor, etc etc...' If i remember correctly Jesus didn't even have a bed and changed the world. Paul didn't even carry food or other supplies with him, he just went and preached where God led and trusted God to provide for him, he didn't need to get a savings, or win the lottery before being able to minister. He grabbed his shoes, tunic and went out into the world with the only thing in his wallet was his faith.
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I hope you're not saying that's what my thinking is. I didn't say I wasn't trying to make an impact already, but the truth is that if you want to support an organization monthly, you need money. There are different organizations I'm interested in helping but haven't had the chance to. Am I saying I won't do what I can? No, but it would be nice to do more.
 
Kayem, you have a beautiful heart. :) I agree with you that one of the most important ways we can serve others is to listen to them. I try to make it a point each day to ask my co-workers how they're doing and how their kids and families are, calling them out by name.

I am always struggling with, What is doing enough vs. What is doing too much? I've had some super-zealous friends who mad me feel like a true spiritual couch potato, or maybe even an all-out heathen. (One of my friends goes out door-to-door witnessing on Saturday mornings for fun... Me? Not so much.)

I tried to do some of the things my friends did but also had to realize I'm not them, and my calling is not their calling.

One thing I need to get back into the habit of doing is asking God to put people on my heart and leading me in what I need to do for them. I had dinner plans with a new friend one day and when I woke up, I knew God was telling me it was going to be a long day at work but I needed to invite this person over anyway. Sure enough, work was a bear and all I wanted to do was go home, be alone, and crash.

But I fixed a very simple dinner (tacos! How easy is that :)) and had this girl over anyway. We had a great time, and I often think back to that night and that maybe our friendship would not have been as solidified if we had not hung out that day.

Sometimes serving people is just as easy as giving them a place to go for a few hours to get their minds off everyday life.
 
Ugly said:
Its funny how many Christians say 'when i get enough money, then i'll be able to do Gods work'. 'Then i can give to church, charities, feed the poor, etc etc...' If i remember correctly Jesus didn't even have a bed and changed the world. Paul didn't even carry food or other supplies with him, he just went and preached where God led and trusted God to provide for him, he didn't need to get a savings, or win the lottery before being able to minister. He grabbed his shoes, tunic and went out into the world with the only thing in his wallet was his faith.
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And if I remember correctly... Jesus IS GOD. And how exactly did he change the world?????
 
@ error...
Lots of people say they live for God just to justify themselves. Who really does can be recognized by the fruit... and doing what is commanded... not by making philosophy... it is by their works. Many people talk big and fall WAY short... those are the "lord, lord" people that Jesus was talking about. Just press onward... and continue toward the prize.
 
I think living for God means a lot. It means giving everything you are, and everything you have to Him. (It's really all His which was given to you as a gifts anyway...)

That said, no one fully surrenders in a single act. Daily, through practices and disciplines not unlike those that you mentioned, disciples have to learn, choose, and be open and willing to carry out God's heart for their lives. To live for God (I think) means literally giving up your 'claims' on your life. That may even mean dreams, social norms, and all manner of things. It's very hard, and in reality is relatively rare.

There are many examples of people who have done so. The prophets, disciples, and apostles in the Bible, heroes/founders/martyrs we hear about in the faith, christian men and women whom books have been published about regarding their self-less and sacrificial journeys through life, and many more...are all examples of the few among the many who responded to God's call and gave Him their lives.

As far as a place to start...Prayer, Scripture, Christian Fellowship, Meditation, Study, Worship, Witness, Mission, and daily trying to seek and chose God as a person (being) over anything else we could chase after or choose.

If you're feeling a little burnt out or dissonant, I would especially recommend starting with Mission, Fellowship, & Prayer. (also worship if it connects and re-energizes you)
 
The Sheep and the Goats

[SUP]31 [/SUP]“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. [SUP]32 [/SUP]All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [SUP]33 [/SUP]He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [SUP]35 [/SUP]For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [SUP]36 [/SUP]I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
[SUP]37 [/SUP]“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [SUP]38 [/SUP]When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [SUP]39 [/SUP]When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
[SUP]40 [/SUP]“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
[SUP]41 [/SUP]“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [SUP]42[/SUP]For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [SUP]43 [/SUP]I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
[SUP]44 [/SUP]“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
[SUP]45 [/SUP]“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
[SUP]46 [/SUP]“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

As some have already said it's very easy to do these things. The people who, like Ugly stated, say things like ''if only the opportunity would present itself'' then they would do something, well they do nothing.

There are plenty of opportunities out there you just go find them and do not overlook anything to small, for you father in Heaven sees all.
 
djness said:
The Sheep and the Goats

[SUP]31 [/SUP]“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. [SUP]32 [/SUP]All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [SUP]33 [/SUP]He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [SUP]35 [/SUP]For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [SUP]36 [/SUP]I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
[SUP]37 [/SUP]“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [SUP]38 [/SUP]When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [SUP]39 [/SUP]When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
[SUP]40 [/SUP]“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
[SUP]41 [/SUP]“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [SUP]42[/SUP]For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [SUP]43 [/SUP]I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
[SUP]44 [/SUP]“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
[SUP]45 [/SUP]“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
[SUP]46 [/SUP]“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

As some have already said it's very easy to do these things. The people who, like Ugly stated, say things like ''if only the opportunity would present itself'' then they would do something, well they do nothing.

There are plenty of opportunities out there you just go find them and do not overlook anything to small, for you father in Heaven sees all.
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The server won't let me rep you again so soon, but hopefully someone else will :)
 
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