Do You Love Me?

“For the love of Christ constrains us, judging this, that if one died for all, then all died;” (2Corinthians 5:14).

Paul explains why he preaches to persuade men to repent. (verse 11) The love of Christ constrains us. By “us” he means the disciples of Jesus. To constrain means to impel, force or drive. And that he was. He was driven to persuade through his teachings. And it was because of the love of Christ. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37) Paul did not allow anyone or anything from doing what the Lord called him to do. His first love was to Jesus. In speaking about marriage, Paul wished men to be like him, celibate in order to dedicate their lives to the Lord. (1Corinthians 7:7, 34, 35) But he teaches that in order not to sin, it was better for man to be married. (1Corinthians 7:25-40)

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples who were fishing. He asks Peter if he loves Him three times. And each time Jesus tells him to feed His sheep. Those who proclaim the Gospel in difficult times, places and circumstances love the Lord more than they love themselves, more than their lives and no matter that they are thought to be out of their minds. This was the love of Christ that they had. Everyone of the disciples was martyred for Jesus except John who when he was released from Patmos, went to Ephesus and died there at a very old age.

The disciples determined that if Christ died for all, they are all dead. “and He died for all, that the living ones may live no more to themselves, but to Him who died for them and having been raised.” (2Corinthians 5:15) They determined that they were dead to their desires and lived for Christ. It’s what Jesus requires. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23, 24; Mark 8:34, 35) But it was Paul again who actually proclaimed it. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.” (Galatians 2:20)

Today, there are people all over the world who have the same passion and love for Christ. Mostly one sees this where preaching Jesus is restricted or forbidden in some countries, but it’s also possible to see some in free countries who have given up their lives entirely to Christ, denying themselves of family and comforts in order to preach Jesus.

What are the things that keep us from denying ourselves besides the flesh? There are outstanding Christians who love the Lord, but not more than their parents, their family, their spouses, their children or other responsibilities. (Matthew 10:37) The Lord doesn’t want one to abandon their family, to neglect their children or aging parents, or to be unfaithful to obligations. He is concerned about the condition of their heart. Our love and passion for Christ must be such that we would be willing to do so. The disciples of Jesus left everything behind when they were called. The thing is that we place ourselves under these obligations here in this world. In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul touches on the subject of marriage. Marriage is a big responsibility and can be a hinderance to serving the Lord 100%. He summarizes how a married person has obligations to the spouse and therefore, they cannot give themselves completely to Christ. “But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how to please his wife. The wife and the virgin are different. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” (1Corinthians 7:33-34) While marriage is God’s will for many to be fruitful and multiply as He told Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28) Paul’s opinion because he writes that it was not commanded by God, feels it’s better to be unmarried and serve the Lord. “For I would that all men were even as I myself am...” (1Corinthians 7:7) If unmarried, we should examine our love for Christ and ensure that we have left everything for Him. We should deny our personal dreams and personal gains to follow Jesus completely.

This is not about seeking how to serve the Lord, but it’s about being available to what the Lord wants us to do. As we have learned, the Lord is not impressed with our sacrifices and works. As humans, we can quickly find something that may not be what the Lord wants us to do and obligate ourselves to the point that our health, our obligations and our families will suffer. Also by obligating ourselves to something that the Lord hasn’t sanctioned, we may not be able to do what He truly wants us to do. The Lord knows what will please Him and what will bring joy to our hearts and not tax us mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and in our relationships and obligations. He knows what our hidden capabilities are. This is not to say that we can’t give ourselves to short responsibilities that line up with what the Word of God has shown us such as sharing Jesus and the Gospel (“And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.” Mark 16:15), giving to the poor (“He who has pity upon the poor lends to Jehovah, and He will reward his dealing to him.” Proverbs 19:17) and visiting prisoners (“Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” Hebrews 13:3).

Then there is something we can always do. “And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31) In this day and age where many are disconnected and lonely because their only interaction is with their phone, expressing our love in countless of ways and kindness toward all will help others.

In short, the love of Christ for others, the lost, the sick, the helpless and the needy will compel us to move like Christ wants us to act. One doesn’t have to go out to seek others. They are everywhere. We have no idea what people are going through.

Let us pray:

Father God, the love of Christ drives me to serve You. I wait on You to open doors and opportunities in order act in obedience and to show Your love. Help me to see those opportunities. Help me to hear the cry of others’ hearts and to discern their need. Help me to be Your mouth, Your feet, Your arms and to bring the light of Your life in me to others. Help me to pray the way You want me to pray and to ask for those things You have for me. Help me to think on heavenly things and not to get involved in the things of this world.  You are on Your Throne. You see all the things of this world that can entangle me. But Lord I cling to You. I know You will demand an account for whatever is happening in this world from those responsible . And I don’t need to worry about any injustices and miseries in this world. You are my God. And I love You more than any idol in this world, anything that draws my attention because it pleases my flesh, anything that would catch my eye and any pride of whatever gain I may have. Whatever I have, whatever I’ve accomplished and whatever I am is because of Your mercy and Your grace. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.