1
00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720
Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your

2
00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720
Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters

3
00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,680
Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to daily devotions with Pastor John.

4
00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,079
Speaker 1: I'm John Stangey, and today's devotion is inspired by Sewod Corinthians,

5
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,400
Speaker 1: chapter five, Verses fourteen and fifteen, which says, for the

6
00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,280
Speaker 1: love of Christ controls us. Because we have concluded this

7
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,880
Speaker 1: that one has died for all. Therefore all have died,

8
00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,320
Speaker 1: and he died for all, that those who live might

9
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,240
Speaker 1: no longer live for themselves, but for him who, for

10
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:48,560
Speaker 1: their sake died and was raised. What's the nicest thing

11
00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,160
Speaker 1: anyone has ever done for us? That's answered in this passage.

12
00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:58,480
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ died for us. He took on flesh, lived

13
00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,840
Speaker 1: a sinless life, and died on the cross because of

14
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,039
Speaker 1: our sin. Then he rose from the grave and lives forever.

15
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,920
Speaker 1: He died for us that we too might live, and

16
00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,919
Speaker 1: that this new life, this second chance we've been given,

17
00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,319
Speaker 1: will not be lived selfishly. We're told here that the

18
00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,040
Speaker 1: calling on our lives, or the way we can say

19
00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,679
Speaker 1: thank you, is by living for him who died on

20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:29,240
Speaker 1: our behalf and was raised again. Selfishness is the mindset

21
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,080
Speaker 1: of this world, but it should never be the mindset

22
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,360
Speaker 1: of one who has been blessed with new life in Christ.

23
00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,319
Speaker 1: Once our hearts grab hold of what Jesus has truly

24
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:44,080
Speaker 1: done for us, that produces a change. It takes selfish

25
00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,880
Speaker 1: dead men like we were and makes us self less

26
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,760
Speaker 1: people who are alive forevermore in Christ. It also changes

27
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,360
Speaker 1: what compels or motivates us. We are no longer controlled

28
00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,120
Speaker 1: by the passions of our old life nature. We're controlled

29
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,160
Speaker 1: by the love of Christ. We aren't controlled by anger,

30
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,680
Speaker 1: the need to be right, a political or social philosophy,

31
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:16,400
Speaker 1: or even fear. Christ's love is now the driving force

32
00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:22,760
Speaker 1: in our lives. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for

33
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,440
Speaker 1: your word, and we thank you for this reminder from

34
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,320
Speaker 1: the Book of Second Corinthians today. And Lord, we're grateful

35
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,320
Speaker 1: that in this portion of your word you teach us

36
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,280
Speaker 1: not to be people who live for ourselves. We know

37
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,840
Speaker 1: at one point, Lord, that that was the mindset that

38
00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,320
Speaker 1: we embraced, and that was the pattern of our living.

39
00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,000
Speaker 1: But in your son Jesus Christ, we've been called to

40
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,760
Speaker 1: a higher standard. We're controlled by the love of Christ.

41
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,600
Speaker 1: Because your son died for us. We are to adopt

42
00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,840
Speaker 1: his mindset as our own. You've called us to no

43
00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,440
Speaker 1: longer live for ourselves, but to live for your son,

44
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,200
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, who died and was raised on our behalf

45
00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,520
Speaker 1: and through whom we find hope. So, Father, as we

46
00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,720
Speaker 1: meditate on what this scripture truly means, we pray that

47
00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,000
Speaker 1: it would have a direct impact on how we interact

48
00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,720
Speaker 1: with others. We know that there are certain people in

49
00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,960
Speaker 1: our lives that it's very difficult for us to be

50
00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,600
Speaker 1: others centered toward, because sometimes they convey such a selfish

51
00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,920
Speaker 1: mindset and such a selfish attitude, and at times we

52
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,160
Speaker 1: may even feel provoked by that, we might be tempted

53
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,000
Speaker 1: to adopt that mindset as our own as we respond.

54
00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,200
Speaker 1: But Lord, you've shown us the right way in this

55
00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,360
Speaker 1: portion of your word. You've shown us a better way

56
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,560
Speaker 1: than the worldly options were often presented with. As you

57
00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,840
Speaker 1: chose to be selfless in your sacrificial love, you've called

58
00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,800
Speaker 1: us to be selfless as well, to no longer live

59
00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,200
Speaker 1: for ourselves, but to live for you, and to glorify

60
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,280
Speaker 1: your name in every moment of our lives and in

61
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,720
Speaker 1: every relationship you bless us with. So again, Lord, we

62
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,680
Speaker 1: thank you for this reminder from your word, and we

63
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,920
Speaker 1: pray for your strength to live this out throughout the

64
00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:18,360
Speaker 1: course of our lives. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.