The struggle for life - Daily Devotional November 14th, 2009

Bible Reading Plan - Ezra 10, Hosea 11, Colossians 2

The struggle for life

In John 10:10 it says, that Jesus "came that they may have life and have it abundantly" and in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world^C)"> that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life". From Genesis 2:9 where Adam and Eve are given the ability to eat of the tree of life to Revelation 22:14 where we see it talking about those who have access to the tree of life, there has been a struggle for life. The whole struggle we see through out the Bible is centered around life and obtaining that life through Jesus Christ. Paul who understood this battle struggles in Colossians 2 not for his own life but for the life of others. Colossians 2:1-2, "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ...". The struggle was one for others to know Christ and the life He brings the way the way he knew it.

This struggle for life is one that we often over look as Christ followers although it is our primary purpose as Christ followers. Matthew 28:19 tells us to go and to make Christ followers of all people or in other words bring life to them. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 it says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God". What Paul was struggling for in Colossians is what you and I are to struggle for today, for the life of others. This is what Jesus Christ died on the cross for and this is what you and I must now live for.

To often times though we are caught up in struggling for our own life or we only struggle for those we know and see. We struggle for our own life because the enemy (devil) comes and distracts us with cares and concerns that get our focus on ourselves rather than on others. We struggle often times for only those we know thus stopping short of the great commission to go make disciples out of everyone. As Christians we can learn alot from this passage today as Paul says in Colossians 2:1 that he struggles for those that he has never met or never seen face to face. Paul is actually struggling for the life of those he does not even know.

Hear is the point of this whole devotional; We as Christ followers must live our lives at ALL TIMES in a way that points to Christ. We do not have the right (although we do have the ability) to live however we want and do whatever we want when we are not around those we know. We must struggle for life for all people including those we don't know, because we maybe that access point for people to find Jesus Christ. Our struggle for life is one of choosing to do right all the time. It is one of choosing to deny ourselves and our will so that Christ will be glorified (Luke 9:23). We are around people all the time all day long and we are struggling for life for them even if we do not know them.

So next time you are about to give into that gossip, that vulgar conversation, check out the girl/guy walking by, go to that bar and get blitzed with your friends, head to the strip club with some buddies or look at that picture on the Internet, remember people are watching and we are in a struggle for life. No, not just your life but for the life of those we do not even know and may never meet face to face. Are you struggling for life today?

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Nehemiah 1-2, Hosea 12, Colossians 3-4

Dream Big
Ben