Live for Jesus – Song

See full series: 2021
See full series: hymns

Live for Jesus – Song

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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#335, Hymns for Worship

 

Tonight, being the 5th Sunday, I want to examine another song we sing from time to time.  This song is entitled, “Live For Jesus”.   It was written by Eden Latta and composed by Frank Davis in 1892.   This is a song about surrender and commitment – traits that ought to be prevalent in the life of every Christian.

  1. 1 – The call for discipleship
    1. Live for Jesus – That is our call as Christians. It is manifested in many ways and in many verses, and it is the crux of the Christian life.
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:15 – we live for Him who died and rose again.
      2. Galatians 2:19-20 – I died to the law that I might live for God, “I have been crucified with Christ…”
      3. Philippians 1:21 – for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.
      4. Colossians 3:17, 23 – even in this we are reminded that in all we do, it is with consideration of Him.
      5. Titus 2:14 – we are His own special people, zealous for good works
    2. O my brother – we understand that we are brethren in Him. We are part of the family of God as we have noted.  It is truly a blessing knowing that we are together part of the household of God – Ephesians 2:19
      However, consider here that this is an admonition – we are encouraging each other to live for Jesus.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, may we work together and for each other building each other up. Consider Romans 14:7-8 which addresses our differences – let us realize that in what we do, we do it for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:10 – we should all speak the same thing.  1 Peter 3:8 calls for us to love as brothers, to be tenderhearted, and have compassion for one another among other things.
      Hebrews 13:1 – let brotherly love continue.
    3. His disciple ever be – the idea of a disciple is a follower of Jesus. In the great commission, we are called upon to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
      IF we are living for Jesus is because we are His disciples.   John 8:31 – Jesus noted that it is the one who abides in His word that is His “disciple indeed”.
    4. Render not to any other what alone the Lord’s should be – we cannot serve Him with divided loyalties.
      1. Consider Matthew 10:37-39 (Luke 14:33 – willing to forsake all for Him).
      2. Romans 12:1-2 – we present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him.
      3. Philippians 3:8 – Paul is the great example in that he suffered the loss of so many things to gain Christ.
  2. 2 – The call of repentance
    1. Live for Jesus wand’ring sinner –
      1. Whether this refers to one who has yet to obey the gospel who is wandering aimlessly seeking – Ephesians 2:1-3 which describes those walking according to the course of this world. 1 Peter 1:18 speaks of those not redeemed by their aimless conduct…
      2. OR a child of God who is struggling with sin, the admonition is to return to Him before it is too late – James 1:19-20 speaks of one who wanders from the truth; Galatians 6:1-2 – he is overtaken in a trespass…
    2. Under Satan serve no more – those in sin are under the sway of the devil –
      1. 1 John 5:19 speaks of how the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
      2. 2 Timothy 2:26 speaks of those taken captive by the devil.
      3. BUT, we NO LONGER serve him – Ephesians 2:4 – begins to speak of God’s grace and deliverance; Titus 3:3-7 – we are now heirs of eternal life; Galatians 5:1 speaks of the liberty in which Christ has made us free.
    3. Of the promised prize a winner, thou may be when life is o’er –
      1. Our life is described as a race. We are running to obtain the prize – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
      2. 2 Timothy 4:7-8– Paul at the end of his life looked forward to that prize.
      3. NOTE also 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 – Paul had to keep running and work at it lest he be disqualified.
  3. 3 – The call for time
    1. In this verse, I can see 2 different appeals – one observing that throughout our day, from morning till evening we serve Him. BUT I also see (and this is the greater likelihood) one’s life from beginning to end.  We will observe the latter.
    2. Live for Jesus in life’s morning –
      1. As you begin your walk with Him – you begin as a babe in Christ – 1 Peter 2:1. We note that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17.  While this reminds us of how we start over in Him (cf. Romans 6:3-4), we must not forget that as we begin this walk we are babes.  As babes in Christ, let us resolve to serve Him.
      2. AND do not let that be too late – be reminded of Ecclesiastes 12:1 – remember God while young. It will NOT get easier if one decides to put it off for awhile – IF you are given that “little while longer” you are seeking.
    3. At the noon tide hour be His – this could be reference to the prime of your life.
      1. Those years where you are thriving – you have some knowledge, experience and great vitality. You have plenty of room to grow, but you press on.
      2. We do not have many passages addressing this, but we have examples in so many godly men and women who faithfully served God for many years – such as Paul, Peter, etc.
    4. And at eve, when day is turning – as you age and your life begins to draw down – STILL live for Him
      1. We are going to get older, and when we do we will begin to slow down and wear down. That was the warning of the latter part of Ecclesiastes 12:1 and following verses.
      2. As we come to the end of our lives, it is not time to retire from serving God or to quit. The elderly are still needed and they still endure to the very end – Mark 13:13, Jesus even said so.
    5. And inherit endless bliss – the promised reward if we remain faithful
      1. Again notice the order of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 – the crown comes at the end.
      2. Revelation 2:10 – those faithful until death that receive the crown of life
      3. Revelation 14:13 – it is those who die in the Lord that rest from their labors
      4. Endless bliss – is a simple description of how glorious heaven will be. Everything that we read about the glories of heaven.  Remember the promise of Jesus to His disciples in John 14:2-3.  We will not have been in heaven for 5 minutes before we will say it was worth everything we went through while on earth.
  4. The Chorus –
    1. Live for Jesus, Live for Jesus – A reminder of the theme – we are to be living for Jesus at all time
    2. Give Him all thou hast to give – Give Him your best. God will accept nothing less.  Give Him the place of priority He deserves.
    3. On the cross the world’s Redeemer gave His life that thou mightst live – consider His gift toward us and remember that we can NEVER outgive Him!
      1. Philippians 2:8 reminds us that Jesus became obedient to the point of death, even the cross.
        NOTE: mightst is archaic language used in poetry and means something that one might do.
      2. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us He bore our sins in His own body, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes we are healed.
      3. 1 John 4:9-10 tells us that God gave Jesus so “that we might live through Him”

And thus we have another song that we sing from time to time.  There is a 4th verse (which was in Sacred Selections -#101) – it calls for faithfulness within.  It says, “Live for Jesus, O my spirit.  Keep His footsteps all the way.  What the Master bids thee, hear it, and His righteous will obey.”  This is a verse calling for personal and inward obedience, another lesson to consider.  But our time is up.

This is a good song to remind us of our purpose while we are here.  Jesus died for us so that we might live.  The least we can do is live FOR Him.  What about you?  Are you living for Jesus?  Think about it!

 

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