“For the love of Christ controls us, because we’ve concluded this: that one has died for all, subsequently all have died; and he died for all, that those that live might not live for themselves but for him who for his or her sake died and was raised.” – 2 Cor. 5:14-15
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? On Friday, after I was driving back from Maryland, I saw more billboards than I cared to count. Most were for the standard things we regularly see advertised, but one billboard stood out to me. In fact, I’ll probably always remember it. It was a person’s picture with a temporary message asking if anyone driving by may be willing to donate a kidney to him. It had a web site anyone could go to in the event that they felt so led to assist. I might be highly curious to see if that approach might work, however it actually can be a really nice thing if a compassionate person decided to make that donation.
So, what is the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for us? That’s answered in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. Jesus Christ died for us. He took on flesh, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross due to my sin and your sin. Then He rose from the grave and lives perpetually. He died for us in order that we, too, might live and that this recent life, this second probability we have been given, is not going to be lived selfishly. We’re told here that the calling in your life and my life, or the best way we are able to say “thanks,” is by living for Him who died on our behalf and was raised again.
Selfishness is the mindset of this world, however it should never be the mindset of 1 who has been blessed with recent life in Christ. Once our hearts and minds grab hold of what Jesus has truly done for us, that produces a change. It takes selfish dead people like we were and makes us selfless people who find themselves alive forevermore in Christ.
It also changes what compels or motivates us. We are not any longer controlled by the passions of our old nature. We’re controlled by the love of Christ. We aren’t controlled by anger, the should be right, a political or social philosophy, and even fear. Christ’s love is now the driving force in our lives, and His love shows itself in many various ways.
5 Ways Christ’s Love Is Evident in Our Lives
1. The way we interact with each other and share life together
2. The way we speak to our spouses or kids
3. The thoughts that we permit our minds to dwell on
4. The what-if scenarios that we used to permit our minds to fear
5. The negative self-talk that we allow to affect our sense of identity or price
These areas of our lives was controlled by this world’s agenda, which ultimately produces death, disease, discouragement, and despair. But now we’re controlled by Christ’s love, and we’ve hope that may not anchored in circumstances. Our hope is anchored in Him.
That is a persuasive technique to live. If you and I are modified by Christ, living in respect of God, not boasting in outward appearances but specializing in Christ’s work in our hearts as we submit ourselves to His love controlling us, His mission for our lives on this world might be complete and our lives will function a powerful and persuasive testimony to others who need His presence as well.
© John Stange, 2024. Originally published at Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/bernardbodo
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads a web based community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded thousands and thousands of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
