What Compels You?

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:
that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all,
that those who live should live no longer for themselves,
but for Him who died for them and rose again.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

If there is anything that there is absolutely no shortage of in this world, there is no shortage of compulsive people. It isn’t hard to find compulsive gamblers, compulsive drinkers, compulsive eaters, compulsive spenders, compulsive thieves, and many other kinds of compulsions.

Yet not every kind of compulsion is evil. There are good compulsions. Jesus was compelled to serve others and go to the cross. At certain times the Holy Spirit compelled Paul. Many of us feel compelled to serve God and His people – I know that I do!

The question is, “What compels us?” In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul proclaimed a beautiful compulsion: for the love of Christ compels us. I would say that the love of Christ compels us in several ways:

– The love we have received from Jesus compels us.
– The love Jesus gives us for others compels us.
– The love we return to Jesus Himself compels us.

After a weekend of serving God, I hope you can look back and be happy about the ways that the love of God compelled you to do what you did for Jesus, His people, and a needy world. Paul could say what I hope I can say: the love of Christ compels me.

Remember that Paul knew what it was like to do ministry from a different motive. His years as a Pharisee taught him what it was to serve God from a hundred different motives, but they all came down to self.

If you are not motivated by love in ministry, what will compel you?

– Guilt compels some into ministry.
– A desire for prominence or importance compels some into ministry.
– Some are compelled into ministry by someone else.
– A longing to earn God’s approval compels some into ministry.

Let your compulsion change today. No matter how you got into your ministry, you can put your heart in the place today where you can say, “I am compelled by love.”

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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