BelovedSample

HAVING THE RIGHT MOTIVE

The apostle Paul, talking about his ministry, explained the only right motive for ministry: “The love of Christ controls us” (2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV). That phrase is translated in the New English Bible as “The love of Christ leaves us with no choice.” It’s this idea of being so consumed by the love of Christ that it can’t help but overflow out of us.

It is similar to God being “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4 ESV) and “abounding in steadfast love” (Exodus 34:6 ESV). The picture is of a God so full of love that it overflows. He is so rich in mercy that He creates beings to receive it.

When we receive the love of God, it’s like we become full to overflowing. As the psalmist says, “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5 ESV). His love is more than we can contain.

Picture a wine glass being filled with the most expensive wine. The cup eventually overflows, and you panic because you can’t bear the thought of it going to waste. You want someone else to capture it and enjoy it as you have.

As we have seen this week, we are intended to enjoy His love—but that can’t be the end of the story. Until His love flows through us, it’s incomplete. This is exactly what 1 John 4:12 explains: “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (ESV).

How do you know that God is truly abiding in you? You love your brothers and sisters.

Let me remind you of the passage we looked at in Day 1: “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:17-18 ESV).

It is only when God’s love is perfected that the fear of judgment is completely removed. His love is perfected in us when we love one another.

Prayer: “As I go about my day today, reveal to me those whom You want to show Your love to through me.”

This plan is presented to you by Beloved by Francis Chan. To learn more about this book, please click here.