How to Live for Jesus: Johnny Chang Sermon on Living From His Love
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
— Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
"Live for Jesus." We hear it in church, we see it on mugs and in captions, and most of us truly want to. But if we're honest, those three words can start to feel heavy. Live for Jesus more. Pray more, read more, serve more, be better. For the weary heart, "living for Jesus" can quietly turn into one more list we're failing to keep up with.
What if living for Jesus was never meant to start with our effort at all? What if it starts with His love for us, and everything else flows from there? That's the heart of today's Sermon Spotlight.
This week we're sharing "Living Life For Jesus", a message from Johnny Chang, featured on his official YouTube channel as part of his "Best of Johnny Chang 2025" collection. Johnny's own story of being transformed by Jesus makes this a powerful one to sit with. Grab a coffee, press play, and then read on for a few Scriptures to carry with you this week.
Watch "Living Life For Jesus" by Johnny Chang on YouTube
Living for Jesus Starts With Being Loved by Him
Look again at Galatians 2:20. Paul doesn't say, "I live by trying hard for God." He says, "I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The whole verse rests on something Jesus already did. Before Paul ever lifted a finger in ministry, he was loved and he was bought with a price.
John says the same thing in one short line: "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Our love for Jesus is always a response, never the starting point. That means living for Jesus isn't about earning His approval. You already have it in Christ. It's about letting His life flow through yours.
If that idea is new to you, or you've slipped back into striving, you'll find real rest in Jesus Plus Nothing: Resting in the Finished Work of Christ, our earlier Johnny Chang Sermon Spotlight.
The Love That Moves Us
Paul explains what actually drives a life lived for Jesus: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
"Constraineth" means His love holds us, presses on us and carries us along. It's not guilt pushing from behind; it's love pulling from the front. When you see how much Jesus gave for you, living "unto him" stops feeling like a duty and starts feeling like coming home.
A simple practice: before you ask, "What should I do for Jesus today?", ask, "What has Jesus already done for me?" Spend two minutes thanking Him for the cross, the empty tomb and His faithfulness this week. Watch how that changes your heart for the rest of the day.
What Living for Jesus Looks Like on an Ordinary Day
Living for Jesus rarely looks dramatic. Most of the time it looks like staying close to Him in the middle of normal life. Jesus put it this way: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Branches don't strain to produce fruit. They just stay connected.
Here are a few gentle ways to abide this week:
- Start small with Him. Ten quiet minutes with a short passage and a simple prayer is enough. A guided plan like 31 Days With Jesus can help if you don't know where to begin.
- Invite Him into ordinary tasks. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17). Washing dishes, answering emails, driving the kids: all of it can be done with Him.
- Love the person in front of you. A kind word, a patient answer or a quick text to someone who's struggling is living for Jesus.
- Rest when you're tired. Jesus Himself said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Rest is not failing at living for Him; it's trusting Him.
When You Feel Like You're Failing at It
Maybe you've tried to live for Jesus and feel like you keep falling short. You're not alone, and you're not disqualified. Here is a promise to hold on to: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Notice who finishes the work: He does. Your growth is in His hands, not on your shoulders. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and let Him change you from the inside out. We explored this more in Transformed by Beholding Jesus, if you'd like to keep reading.
A Prayer to Live for Jesus
Lord Jesus, thank You that You loved me and gave Yourself for me. I don't want to live for You out of fear or pressure, but out of love for You. Let Your love hold me and carry me today. Help me stay close to You like a branch on the vine, in the big moments and the ordinary ones. When I feel weak or like I'm failing, remind me that You began a good work in me and You will finish it. Live Your life through me today. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Do you know Jesus personally? ✝️
Living for Jesus starts with knowing Him, and He loves you right where you are. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). You don't have to clean yourself up first. Jesus already paid for every sin on the cross and rose again.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
If you want to receive Him today, you can pray something like this:
"Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins and rose again. I receive Your forgiveness and Your love. Come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Thank You for making me Yours. Amen."
If you prayed that, welcome to the family of God! 🎉 Tell a Christian friend or a local church, start reading the Gospel of John, and take your next step with How to Know Jesus Deeply: 7 Simple Ways to Grow Closer to Him.
You might also like: Jesus Plus Nothing: Resting in the Finished Work of Christ · Transformed by Beholding Jesus
Keep going
Want a simple daily rhythm for staying close to Jesus? These resources can help you start each day with Him.
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