2 Corinthians 5:14-15   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.

“And he died for all.” God’s love for fallen mankind was profound enough for Him to give what has to be termed the ultimate sacrifice, His only Son. Jesus was willing to die to secure you a spot with Him for eternity, a fellowship with God that begins now and continues forever.

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves.” Isn’t that a neat little summary of what is wrong with most of the world?  “…that those who live should no longer live for themselves.” Most of the people in this world are concerned with nothing other than living for themselves. And that includes those who are followers of Jesus Christ. We get so wrapped up in schedules, appointments, finances, relationships and hobbies that we forget to keep the main thing the main thing. We have a difficult time putting the needs of others ahead of our own. They call that being egocentric, which means I put myself at the center of my universe. The world revolves around me. I put the satisfaction of my needs at the center of my life. It is played out on the personal level, to be sure, but this goes beyond that – the neighborhood, the community, the state, the political party, the nation. Wars are waged as parties seek to defend their own interests. And it all has as its root the same thing: SIN, the desire to live only for self, with self at the center. It is interesting to note that one of the first words children speak with utter conviction is “MINE.” Our world caters to this kind of thinking. Advertising is geared toward it: do more for yourself, you deserve the best, indulge yourself more.

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. We need to be concerned about ourselves and taking care of our needs. That is not the problem. The problem comes in the way we let that self-concern become supreme, overriding our concern for our neighbor, the good of others, and even the will of God. That is when jealousy, dishonesty and greed slip in and show themselves in harmful behavior. In fact, if you were to examine all the sinfulness and violence and hatred in the world, it would all boil down to this: love for self above love for God and our neighbor.

Thanks be to God that His love is not like that. His love is beyond self-love. His love is so profound that he provided the means for us to overcome the sin so deeply rooted in us. He sent Jesus to take care of it for us. We are convinced that one died for all. All are in the same boat we are, spiritually dead and in need of help. And that is what God gave us in Jesus. He lived a perfect life for ALL. There is no sin so great that His death did not take care of it. We sometimes have a hard time believing that. We sometimes cannot believe that God would still love us and forgive us, especially when a particular sin is bothering us. But He died for all. His salvation gives us the means to get beyond selfishness when by faith His death becomes our death for sin and His resurrection becomes our resurrection.

Paul understood this. He had lived a life of hatred, murder and evil. How he must have shuddered when he remembered watching the stoning of Stephen, one of God’s dearly loved children. Think of the guilt that must have weighed on him when he recalled how he had treated Christians. But Paul also knew God’s great love for him. That is why he could write in Romans, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)

You and I need to know that love, feel it in the same way that Paul did. We need to remember and experience that awesome love of God in Christ Jesus and let that love compel us. When Paul felt that love, he was able to begin to live not for himself, but for Christ. “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 most important way we live not for ourselves but for Him is to see to it that the message of God’s love in Christ is proclaimed to those who don’t know about it. We open the door for that when we see to physical needs of our neighbors, showing Christian compassion, which gives us the chance to share the message of Christ’s love that earned our forgiveness, life and salvation.

You and I need to make that a reality, proclaiming the victory of our God, with the love of Christ compelling us.