What Does It Mean to be Living for Jesus?

One hymn that I learned when I was a kid is “Living for Jesus” by Thomas Obediah Chisholm (words) and Carl Harold Lowden (music).

It is my favourite hymn of commitment. It could be yours, too.

“Living for Jesus” provides the best answer to the question, “What does it mean to be living for Jesus?”

Going through the song, the answer boils down to the phrase “total surrender to His will”.

Read the lyrics below or sing along with the video embedded in this post.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Total surrender to His will

On 19 May 2012, I had the opportunity to meet up with Pastor Alan Utting, who was in charge of the multicultural ministries with the Baptist Union of NZ.

It’s a great honour to have been invited for a cup of coffee with Pastor Alan.

We met at a cafe in Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland.

We were six months living in Auckland since our arrival. I was looking for ministry opportunities then.

Listening to his counsel and knowing his pastoral experiences, I’m greatly encouraged. My gratitude and appreciation to him for sharing his valuable time with me.

Our conversation could be summarized in the same phrase as when you live for Jesus, “total surrender to His will“.

Pastor Alan and I expressed this commitment in our prayers. Right there at our coffee table, in the midst of the open public, we bowed down our heads and prayed.

There’s no doubt that living for Jesus is the best and joyful life we could ever live on earth as it is in heaven.

Just know and do what it means to be living for Jesus – total surrender to His will.

After story

Six months after my meeting with Alan Utting, we moved to Timaru. I never knew how and what ministry awaited me in Timaru then.

Please read the blog post below and know what our living for Jesus has brought us.