A female pastor shared with me: “I had been coughing for a long time and was feeling very tired and dizzy, but that night I had to drive a distance to preach. I was afraid that my body wouldn’t be able to handle it. That morning I read the President’s desk article ‘Die for Jesus’, and I thought, I have already given my life to Jesus, I am willing to die for Jesus. I will go like this, and if I die, I die. The amazing thing was, after thinking this, my mood was lifted. I went happily, and I returned happily. Even though the circumstances didn’t change, my heart had changed!”

I thanked her for sharing and said to her, “This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’” (Philippians 4:13)

Baptism is dying for God Brothers and sisters, when we are willing to die for Jesus, only then can we live for Jesus. In fact when you are baptized, you have decided to die for Christ, as the Bible says: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3)

When I understood “die for Jesus”, I also learned to “live for Christ”. In my marriage, I learned to love my wife more. For example, everyone knows that I love playing basketball. I play almost every day, rain or shine. But when I was willing to die for Christ, I learned to “live for Christ”. I would think about how my wife loves walking as exercise. Even though I don’t like it, I was willing to live for Christ, so I was willing to learn to lay down my rights and my pleasures, and accompany her occasionally on her walks.

The Bible says: “14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5)

Christ’s love compels us
We decide to “die for Christ, live for Christ”, because Christ’s love compels us. His love is a love to the point of dying for us.

Friends, you need to receive this sacrificial love, to trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Only then will Christ’s love compel you. This love causes you to love God and love people. This love makes you to have “high fever”. We have died with Christ. From now on, we do not live for ourselves, but we live for Christ.

A young brother in Christ, compelled by Christ’s love, immediately took action, to die for Christ, and to live for Christ. At 4 or 5 in the early morning, he would kneel to read the Bible and pray. He was willing to sacrifice his sleep to draw closer to God, to express his love for God.

A father, compelled by Christ’s love, heard the heartfelt words of his child and understood he was in the wrong. He confessed to his child and asked for forgiveness, and his relationship with his child became as loving as before. This father was willing to sacrifice his “face” to love his child.

Brothers and sisters, “living for Christ” will positively impact your love for God and your love for other people.

“Living for Christ” is also obeying Jesus Christ’s greatest commandment: “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12)

By Rev Dr Tie King Tai, SCAC President