CONTROLLED BY LOVE

CONTROLLED BY LOVE

II Cor. 5:14-15 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ who died and was raised for them.  NLT

      We cannot do anything of eternal worth without the love of Christ controlling us.  His love is what motivates us to do for others instead of doing only for ourselves.  His love stirs up within us hearts of gratitude that move us to want to serve the Lord. 

      Jesus did not die for just some of us.  He died for all people everywhere for all time.  He died so that all who have a desire to be right with God may do so.  He died so that we can have the power within us to change.  He died to change the desires within us from being sin-driven to being God-driven.  He died so that we would seek to please Christ and not ourselves.

      We cannot have it our way and still be in Christ’s way.  We cannot please God when our priorities are all messed up.  We are compelled by Christ to love Him more than anything or anyone else in life and then to love others as much as we do ourselves.

      What do you do daily out of your love for Christ?  What do you do for others because you love them?  What do you do for yourself?  How much time and energy do you give to each of these?  What does it say about your priorities to love and be driven by love?  Be honest with yourself.  Shouldn’t the fact that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead for us move us to live to please Him first and foremost in our lives?

        If we truly love the Lord, we will be driven away from sin and drawn to Him.  We will want to please Him in all we do and bring Him honor and glory in all things.