Mission Venture Ministries

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) 

This verse exhorts believers not to adopt the behaviors and values of the present worldly system but rather to experience an inward transformation through mental renewal. This renewal enables them to discern and embrace God’s will, which is described as good, pleasing, and perfect. The transformation contrasts external conformity with an internal change powered by spiritual renewal, leading to right understanding and conduct aligned with God’s purposes. 

Christ lives in us, and he leads us by the Holy Spirit toward obedience. Part of faith is trusting God to do his work in us. The greatest command to love for God (Mark 12:29), is also the greatest motive for obedience. We obey Him because we love Him. It is God who works in us, both to will and to behave according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:13). 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 contains a basic list on how to live a Christian life: 

1. Recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction,
2. Regard (respect) them very highly in love because of their work.
3. Live in peace with one another.  
4. Admonish the unruly,
5. Encourage the fainthearted,
6. Help the weak,
7. Be patient with everyone.
8. See that no one repays another with evil for evil,
9. Always seek what is good for one another and for all people.
10. Rejoice always,
11. Pray without ceasing,
12. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
13. Do not quench the Spirit,  
14. Do not utterly reject prophecies,
15. Examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good,
16. Abstain from every form of evil. 

As we see, Paul knew that the Thessalonian church needed some basic exhortations or reminders about the Christian life. We all live for something, however, living for Jesus means that pleasing Him is our highest endeavor (Colossians 1:10). Those filled with the Spirit of Christ are motivated primarily by Jesus’ goals and His plans for their lives. Those who are living for Jesus follow His way and not their own since they obey the word of God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). 

Jesus warned that living for Him would be costly (Luke 14:26–33). The first disciples were willing to pay that price. They suffered tremendous persecution and even death in order to glorify God (Acts 5:41). Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:58–60), James was beheaded (Acts 12:2), and history records that all the apostles but John were also martyred. Even today, Christians around the world are killed, beaten, robbed, tortured, and imprisoned simply because they live and speak the commandments and warnings found in the Bible. 

Here are some additional points of what living for Jesus means: 

• We have died to sin. Romans 6:6-8 is a beautiful description of a Christian who chooses daily to consider themselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. Though we will still stumble at times, sin no longer masters us. Just as a corpse does not lust, covet, or gossip, those who are dead to sin do not heed to temptation because they know that: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

• We have only one God. “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). It means we search ourselves for idols that steal our time and affection away from total devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). 

• We diligently study His Word. Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Correctly handling God’s Word is vital for one who wants to avoid deception and live as salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13–16). Unless we know Scripture, we will violate His standards and lead others to do the same. 

• We use our gifts to serve God and others. We strive to live as Jesus lived. We study Christ in the Scriptures and pattern our lives after His (1 Corinthians 11:1). He gave unselfishly, so we need to set aside our preferences and devote our time, resources, and energy to His purposes. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

• We find our greatest fulfillment in serving Him. “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9). 

• We know where our real treasure is. People who live for Jesus are not as concerned about earthly treasures as is the rest of the world. While we are free to enjoy all God’s blessings in this life, Jesus made it clear that we are not to put our whole focus on them (Matthew 6:19–20). People who are living for Jesus focus on eternity and dedicate themselves to endeavors that have eternal significance. Our passion and energy are directed toward investing in the lives of others who will hopefully join us in heaven one day (Luke 10:2–3). 

Becoming a Christian means we are choosing to live for Jesus instead of living for ourselves. He made His requirements clear: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Carrying a cross means we are dying to our right to be our own boss. We cannot have two masters; therefore, “whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26–27; Galatians 1:10; Matthew 6:24). 

We need to remember that either we live for Jesus or for something or someone else. Consequently as we live for Jesus, He empowers us to live the godly lives we were created to live (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14). 

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