For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)
Nothing could be plainer; God wants my actions under the
motivation of His love. Lest I think that love is about feeling like it or
having a loving attitude, these verses quickly add that His love led Jesus to
die for us. He wasn’t being dutiful, faking it, or filled with gushy emotion. In
Gethsemane, He asked, “If possible, let this cup pass from me” indicating He would
rather not, yet He also said, “Not my will but Thine be done” showing His total
commitment to obedience. The love of God controlled Him and because it did,
sinners can have eternal life.
But this love is costly. Faking it is not. In fact,
faking it could be motivated by personal gain. If I look good or “spiritual” in
the eyes of others, then I might think that is credit to my account. However, demonstrating
the love of God is never about living for my own benefit and pleasure, but
living for Him. This is not a surface, rote, or duty kind of obedience, but one
that comes from the heart.
Genuine love may not be appreciated. Christ died for “all”
but do “all” even care? Does Jesus receive praise, thanksgiving or allegiance from
those for whom He died? Even those of us who believe in Him are often
ungrateful and quick to take glory for ourselves when it belongs to Him. Not
only that, I can be hurt and offended when I serve others and they do not show
any appreciation for my efforts. Those negative responses show me that my love
is often more “my” doing it than being motivated by Him.
The phrase about this love controlling us keeps echoing
in my heart. Loving others should never come from a sense that I should. It is
supposed to come from a force so deep in me that it permeates all that I am and
motivates what I do, even without thinking about it. The love of Christ is not
calculating or trying harder. It just is.
I like the story about a middle-aged business executive who
seems to have a better handle on this love than I do. One day he approached the
front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came
up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to
pass on through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, “Don’t hold the
door for me just because I’m a lady.”
To her surprise, he smiled and replied, “I’m not. I’m
holding it open because I’m a gentleman.”
Lord, this is an ongoing challenge. Loving others must
come from You, for in myself I am totally selfish. As You give opportunity,
prompt from within that attitude that others are more important than myself. May
I continually realize that nothing is more important than living for You — who
died and rose again for me.
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