Governed by Christ’s love for us

‘For the love of Christ compels us,’ 2 Corinthians 5:14 CSB

The most powerful incentive to overcoming sin is not our love for Christ, but His love for us. Even with the best of intentions, our love for Him is subject to fluctuations. Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, ‘’But I have this against you, that you have left your first love”’ (Revelation 2:4 NASB20). He said to the church in Laodicea that their love had become ‘lukewarm’ (see Revelation 3:16). Many of us grew up in churches where we were told that the reason we yield to certain carnal traits is because we don’t love the Lord enough. So, we try harder, without success, and get discouraged. That’s like putting the cart before the horse. It should be the other way around.

The secret of victorious Christian living is not found in trying to love Jesus more, but in having a revelation of His love for you. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died.’ (2 Corinthians 5:14 CSB) Paul’s actions were governed by the knowledge of Christ’s incredible love for Him. If you’re struggling with sinful habits today, pray for a revelation of God’s love for you. It makes all the difference! Paul writes: ‘And that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (Ephesians 3:17-19 CSB).

SoulFood: Num 3:1 – 4:33, Mark 1:9-13, Ps 6, Pro 10:22-23.

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 20252025