‘Whatever we do, it is…because Christ’s love controls us now.’ 2 Corinthians 5:14 TLB
Paul writes, ‘Whatever we do, it is certainly not for our own profit, but because Christ’s love controls us now.’ God is looking for volunteers, not conscripts. Conscripts are motivated by law; volunteers are motivated by love. After the attack on Pearl Harbour, enlistment centres all over America were jammed with boys too young to fight, men who had retired, and even the blind. One elderly man said to a recruitment officer, ‘I’d consider it my greatest privilege to die defending this country.’ Why do men and women do this? Duty? Yes, but something even greater – devotion! Their hearts have been captured by a cause. Facing the loss of his freedom, his ministry and possibly his life, Martin Luther told the ecclesiastical powers of his day, ‘I will not recant. My conscience is captive to the Word of God!’ No one should ever have to beg and pressure you to teach a Sunday school class, work with young people, give to the cause of Christ, visit the sick, lonely and needy, or serve others. You should be begging for the privilege! Paul said, ‘What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ… for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.’ (Philippians 3:7-8 KJV) Commitment to Christ is like signing your name on a blank cheque and saying, ‘Lord, You fill in the amount.’ You’re not doing God a favour by serving Him; He’s honouring you by allowing you to serve Him. Today, measure what you would do for the Lord – by what you actually do.
SoulFood: 2 Chron 22-24; Luke 17:1-10; Ps 119:121-128; Pro 22:4-7
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2014
