For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 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.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

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I’ve been reading a book called “If You Will Ask” by Oswald Chambers. There’s a chapter called “The Simplicity of Prayer”, and it’s about the time leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. It starts in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus tells His disciples, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). He spent the last hours with His disciples, telling them to watch and pray constantly. Jesus wanted them to see His hardship, His anxiety, and His suffering. Luke 22:44 says, “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” He did all of this because of His love for you and me. Our fate was death and the grave, and Jesus changed our entire trajectory toward eternal life. 

What does this tell us? God is not overbearing or iron-handed, He is sacrificial and loving. He is not narcissistic—He loves unconditionally. He is not controlling—He is sovereign and in control. A life apart from God will never be a complete, full life. Living for Him is total fulfillment and complete satisfaction. He loves us and wants us to live life to the fullest. Living for God and not for ourselves means fully walking in our purpose. It doesn’t mean a life without hardship or a perfect life, but it does mean a life that is whole, not lacking anything. 

So many celebrities talk about an emptiness that they feel despite their fame and accomplishments because, without Christ, they have nothing. Paul says in his letters to the Philippians, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8). A fully satisfying life is not one of notoriety and attainment. A fully satisfying life is knowing Christ and living for Him.

Next Steps

Take time today to reflect on your life. Are there areas where you are expecting fulfillment that only God can provide? Write a prayer asking God to lead you and guide you toward reorienting that part of your life to Him.