Compelled by Love
For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15(HCSB)
Seeing the body of Christ at work in the community is such a blessing for this Pastor. I had the joy of witnessing the church at work this past weekend and I must admit, it caused me to swell with a “healthy” pride as I witnessed brothers and sisters in Christ working together to accomplish a common goal.
The events that our church family was involved in this weekend were the Covington County Relay for Life and the House of Hope food distribution ministry. Both events share the common goal of ministering to the physical needs of individuals in order to have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Whether raising funds for cancer research or distributing boxes of food items, our purpose was and is to be Christ’s “hands and feet” and to be a reflection of His marvelous light.
The Apostle Paul reminds in the passage above that the motivation for ministry is the love of Christ. The love of Christ led Him to Calvary’s hill where He willing laid down His life for all mankind. As followers of Christ, we too must be willing to lay down our lives in daily surrender to the One who died for us.
I would argue that what I witnessed throughout our community and from our faith family here at Seminary Baptist this weekend was a direct response to the love of Christ and the truth that Paul stated above. His love compelled us. His love flowed through us. His love empowered us. His love touched others through us as we faithfully surrendered our lives to Him. We are the body of Christ!
In Christ,
Brother Tim