So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2nd Corinthians 5:20
Who or what are you living for today? This is an important question for us to answer honestly. You see, our answer to this question will drive everything we do. If we live for ourselves and the things of this world, we will find ourselves unsatisfied and empty every single time. If we, on the other hand, live for the things that are eternal, the things of Christ and His Kingdom, we will find deep purpose and significance each and every day.
Throughout Scripture, we are reminded of the importance of living solely for God. The apostle Paul writes about this call to live for Christ and Christ alone in 2nd Corinthians 5. In this passage of Scripture, he reminds us that we all have a responsibility to live for Christ rather than this world after placing our faith in Him. Paul wrote in this passage of Scripture, “Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old lives” (verse 14). Because of what Christ has done through His life, death, burial, and resurrection, we are dead to our old lives, our sinful nature, and our flesh, and alive in Christ. Paul continued writing, “He died so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (verse 15). What a remarkable truth from God’s word for us to live by. When we place our faith in Christ, He completely changes us from the inside-out.
What does it look like to live for Christ and Christ alone and the things of His kingdom? Paul gives us a picture of how we are called to live for Christ several verses later in 2nd Corinthians 5. One way we live for Christ and His kingdom is by being His representatives here on earth. That is why Paul wrote, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (verse 20). Do not take this truth lightly. We are God’s representatives here on earth if we have placed our faith in Christ. This is a weighty task and responsibility. The message that we are called to spread to others as we represent Christ is this: “Come back to God!” Our calling is to live in a way that invites those around us to turn their lives back to God.
We have a choice today, friends. We can either live for ourselves and the things of this world, or we can live for Christ and His kingdom. Only one of those choices will make an impact for eternity. May each one of us choose to live for Christ and His kingdom today, committing to represent Christ well.
Answer this question honestly: What are you living for? Are you living for yourself and the things of this world, constantly pursuing more and more, yet finding yourself unsatisfied, or are you living for Christ and His kingdom? Whatever your answer to this question is, we all have room to grow. What is one step you can take today to live for the things that are eternal, Christ and His kingdom?
“God, as I seek to live for the things that are eternal, I confess …”
2nd Corinthians 5:1-21
1For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
©2026 Sagebrush Church
