”For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:” | 2 Corinthians 5: 14

All of mankind is driven by either of two undeniable inward powers or passions.

We are born into this world with a love for self, and a love for the things of the world, a love for every thing that will satisfy our fleshly appetite. Those who are born from above have a love for Christ and the things that are not of this world. The child of God has both, yet the latter one has preeminence and dominion and will ultimately prevail in the course of time and events. This insatiable desire and appetite directs the path of one’s life.

The scriptures term this “constraining love”. This love is twofold in respect to God’s love for his people and because of his love for them we love him with the love that he has given us. We have often heard “love” defined as “commitment”, “dedication”, “devotion” , “faithfulness”, and etc. These are not what love is, these are the evidence of existing love. Where these abide there is love. Where these do not exist there is no love. All men have love, but all men do not love Christ.

The object is non-existent in the hearts of those that know not Christ, and the evidence is clearly revealed. The Word of God declares that “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” (1 John 2: 15) and that “if any man love God, the same is known of him.“ (1 Corinthians 8:3) A profession of love for Christ without commitment, devotion, dedication and faithfulness to him and his work is like a dead body with only a name tag on it’s toe.

The constraining love of Christ does exactly that… it constrains us… it moves us… it persuades us… it compels us to come to Christ, loving him, worshipping him, desiring the things of God. My prayer is:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3: 17-19)

~ Pastor Tommy Robbins

Click here to listen to the message “The Constraining Love of Christ”

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FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 12 October, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky