Easier said than done, right? I’m not going to act for one second like temptation isn’t all around us in every waking moment. It’s in our music, our movies, our books, advertisements—literally everything. The devil has made sin look normal in our society, and that makes it harder to live counter-culturally for Christ. It makes people think, “It’s different now than it was back then,” or “Everybody does it,” or even, “God knows my heart.” But listen—living for Jesus doesn’t change just because the world around us does.
Living for Jesus is not about being perfect. It’s about surrendering. It’s about choosing Him over the crowd, over comfort, over what feels good. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s a fight every day.
1. Living for Jesus Starts With a Heart Posture
You can’t live for Jesus if you don’t belong to Him first. That sounds basic, but a lot of us try to live a “Christian lifestyle” without having a true relationship with Christ. Living for Jesus is not just going to church or posting Bible verses on social media. It’s about dying to self. It’s about giving Him your whole heart and letting Him lead it.
Luke 9:23 says, “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
That word “daily” isn’t just thrown in there for poetic effect. It means this walk with Jesus is not a once-a-week thing. It’s not seasonal. It’s daily.
Living for Jesus means getting up every morning and deciding that today, you will trust Him more than your feelings, more than your plans, and more than your fears.
2. Living for Jesus Means Fighting the Flesh
Matthew 26:41 NIV says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Let’s be honest. The flesh doesn’t go down without a fight. Living for Jesus means saying no to your sinful nature, even when everything in you wants to say yes. It means avoiding those DMs, deleting those apps, walking away from those conversations.
It means staying in the Word, staying in prayer, and staying alert.
And no, this isn’t always easy. Sometimes you’ll feel like the only one in the room standing for Christ. But guess what? The Holy Spirit is your helper, and you are never alone.
3. Living for Jesus Is Seen in the Small Things
We often think about bold moments—preaching to crowds, leading worship, going on missions. But real living for Jesus is seen in the everyday, quiet obedience:
- Choosing not to gossip
- Showing kindness to the rude coworker
- Reading your Bible even when you’re tired
- Saying no to bitterness and choosing to forgive
- Honoring your body and not just following your cravings
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
That means your schoolwork, your job, your relationships, your decisions—all of it matters. And all of it can glorify Him.
4. Living for Jesus Means Having Vision
Living for Jesus doesn’t mean you drift through life waiting for heaven. It means you dream with God. You walk in purpose. You ask Him for direction.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
When you’re living for Jesus, you start to care about where your life is going, not just for success, but for Kingdom impact. You don’t want to waste time chasing empty things. You want to build something that honors Him. Whether it’s your career, your family, or your ministry, you want your life to mean something.
5. Living for Jesus Means Doing Relationships Differently
This one hits hard. Because let’s face it: the world is out here telling you to follow your heart, do what feels good, and define love your own way. But when you’re living for Jesus, you realize love isn’t a feeling—it’s a commitment. It’s selfless. It’s pure.
You wait when it’s not popular. You guard your heart. You pray for your future spouse. You don’t play around with people’s emotions.
And when you’re in a relationship, you encourage one another in Christ. You talk about your struggles. You pray together. You seek accountability. You honor each other’s purity and purpose.
Real talk: If you’re in a relationship and it’s pulling you away from God, not toward Him, that’s not living for Jesus.
6. Living for Jesus Isn’t About Being Liked
Following Jesus will cost you something. Sometimes it’s popularity. Sometimes it’s friendships. Sometimes it’s opportunities. But can I be real with you?
If everyone likes you, you might not be standing for much.
John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Living for Jesus means being okay with standing alone. It means being okay with being misunderstood. It means choosing the narrow path even when everyone else is running the other way.
But don’t forget—you’re not living for applause. You’re living for an audience of One.
7. Living for Jesus Involves Community
You weren’t meant to do this alone. Living for Jesus means linking arms with other believers who sharpen you, challenge you, pray for you, and help you grow.
Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…”
Find people who love Jesus more than they love comfort. People who will call you higher. People who know your name and your story.
And if you can’t find a godly community, pray and start one.
8. Living for Jesus Means Surrender, Not Perfection
Can we break this lie right now? You don’t have to be perfect to live for Jesus. You have to be surrendered.
He doesn’t expect you to never mess up. He just wants your heart. He wants you to run to Him, not away, when you fall.
Psalm 51:17 says, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Living for Jesus is about coming back to Him again and again, even when you’re broken, messy, and unsure.
9. Living for Jesus Is Worth It
This world will offer you comfort, fame, sex, money, and clout. But none of it satisfies. None of it lasts.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Living for Jesus may cost you something, but it gives you everything.
Peace.
Joy.
Purpose.
Eternal life.
This life is a vapor. Don’t waste it chasing temporary things. Choose the eternal.
Final Thoughts: Living for Jesus in 2025 and Beyond
Living for Jesus today is radical. It takes courage. It takes intentionality. It takes grit. But most of all, it takes love—a deep love for the One who first loved you.
So here’s the challenge:
- Start each day in the Word.
- Say no to sin even when no one’s watching.
- Be bold in your faith.
- Serve others.
- Forgive quickly.
- Love deeply.
- Walk humbly.
Live in such a way that people don’t just see you—they see Jesus in you.
That’s what it really means to be living for Jesus.
And it’s so, so worth it.