Love's Persuasion

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 are driven by one of two undeniable inward powers or passions. We are born into this world with a love for self, a love for the things of the world, and 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 which are not of this world. The child of God has both, yet the latter has preeminence and dominion, and will ultimately prevail in the course of time and events. This insatiable desire and appetite directs the path of the believer’s life.

    The Scriptures term this “constraining”love. This love is twofold in respect to God’s love for his people. Because of his love for us, we love him with the love that he has given us. We have often heard love defined as commitment,dedication,devotion,faithfulness, etc. However, these are not love. Rather, these are the evidences 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 Jn 2:15), and that if any man love God, the same is known of him (1 Cor 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, persuades, and compels us to come to Christ; to love and worship, 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 (Eph 3:17-19).