I love the song Hope for Now by City & Colour. The lyrics refer to the deep fulfillment that we artists feel in dreaming that we could save somebody’s life through our art. As a musician I am deeply moved as I listen. One line in the song especially grabs & disturbs me: “How can I instill such hope, but be left with none of my own?”
Life for a Jesus follower is not meant to be hopeless! It is full of hope and full of light. But, how does that really work?
You were designed by God to be a light in this life. But, the path to shining as that light may surprise you. I Corinthians 5:15 says:
“15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves
but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
The “good news’ is that we don’t have to live for ourselves anymore! Living the way Jesus did means discovering the passionate life of loving service to God and everyone around us!
But, you can’t afford to confuse no longer living FOR yourself with not living AS yourself. Your hope is found in Jesus because he frees you to embrace this life AS yourself but not FOR yourself. God restoring you as a new creation through faith in Jesus is the first step to real life!
As Christians, we have entered the life that the whole world is thirsty for. We have been rescued by Jesus to embrace our true identity as true children of God. So, ask God to grant you the grace to live this day AS yourself FOR the One who lived, surrendered His life and was raised again for you.