Words of Worth

His Love Compels

February 14, 2011

This Valentine’s Day I am enjoying a beautiful view of God’s amazing creation from my cabin in Breckenridge, Colorado and from an elevation of 9200 feet. It is safe to say that I am truly high and lifted up and I certainly will be lifted higher up when I start skiing a little later today. But because I have you in my heart, and today is a day of hearts – Valentine’s Day – I wanted to send you a few thoughts on what I studied this morning as I looked into His Word and out at His majestic works.

Of course the subject is Love…..

2 Corinthians 5:14 says this, “For the love of Christ controls us….” Another word for control is compel, meaning we are compelled in everything we do by His love for us. Many things may motivate us to “do” the things we “do”, but the underlying motivation for all our thoughts and actions, our ideas and dreams, our passions and desires should be love. That love should be centered on Christ and the love He has for us moves us forward in our walk with Him. To live no longer for ourselves but entirely for Him is the essence of discipleship. That’s our goal – to be dedicated, devoted disciples and by our actions (motivated by love) we will RE-present God in everything we “do”.

Kenneth Wuest explains the verse this way, “For the love which Christ has for me presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive.”

What a word picture! This scene will be played out all over the place in a lesser form as we offer our Valentines to our husbands, children, friends, and other significant people in our lives. (I even saw Vday cards from to and from the dog!) But move this visual out of the secular to the sublime. God’s love – His pure and perfect love pressing us in all sides, prohibiting us from considering any other – how could we ever turn away from the One Who loves us so completely? This love wraps around us with ultimate tenderness and compels us to love Him back and love others in the process.

No matter your station in life, single, married, divorced, widowed, this verse is your Valentine from the Father today. Pull that love right around you this morning and let it guide your thoughts and actions today and every day.

With love and gratefulness on this Valentine’s Day,
Cammy