CHRIST’S LOVE COMPELS US

When someone does you a great kindness, it is natural that your soul will not find rest until you reciprocate, at least in some way. Even if you cannot fully repay what has been done for you, gratitude can be expressed through prayer and blessing that person before God. This is a common human instinct.

Similarly, when we are saved, we realize that someone—Jesus Christ—loved us to the fullest, even dying for our sins. Had He not died, we would still be under the dominion of sin and death (Romans 5:8; 6:23).

It is clear that when we truly appreciate such extraordinary kindness, we feel compelled to respond. While we cannot repay Christ with our own deeds—because we have already sinned against God many times—there is a way we can show our gratitude: by extending His love to others who have not yet experienced it, so that they too may be saved. This is why we share the Gospel and pray for others.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
—2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

Notice the word compels. Just as Christ’s amazing love gave Himself for us freely, it becomes a debt of love toward us, motivating us to reach others with the good news. We are called not to take His grace lightly, but to actively participate in sharing it:

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
—2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV)

If you are saved, rejoice and give thanks for that grace! But remember, there are many who still need salvation. Ask yourself: since my own salvation, have my gifts or abilities helped lead someone else to Christ? If your spiritual gifts have only been used for comfort or personal benefit, then they are incomplete—they have not yet fulfilled God’s purpose (1 Peter 4:10).

Therefore, let us all allow Christ’s love to become a debt we must repay—not with our own merits, but by serving God and extending His love to others. In doing so, the grace of God reaches many more, so that they too may rejoice in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What empowered the apostles to transform the world in their time was their collective recognition of Christ’s love, which became a motivating debt for them. They served God with all that they had. Likewise, let us transform Christ’s love into a living, active obligation in our lives.

And the Lord will be glorified in our service and in our lives.

Shalom.

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