Controlled By Love
1 Cor 5:13 (NLT) If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
Why do we do the things we do? Is it because of fear, a religious spirit, for money, for the praise of others, or other factors? Love is the best motivator. Paul said, “Christ’s love controls us.”
We can only be fully controlled by love after the death of everything else. This is why Jesus died for all of us, so that all of our ungodly deeds and motivations could also be put to death.
1 Cor. 5:15 states, “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
God gives us the power to be controlled by His love, which is evidenced by not being selfishly motivated, living for Christ, and serving God's purpose.
Being controlled by love has benefits:
- Purifies our motivations
- Sanctifies our actions
- Ratifies our decisions
- Clarifies our purpose
If I seem crazy sometimes, it's just that I’m radically committed to Loving God, Loving People and Serving the World!