The Girl in the Middleਨਮੂਨਾ

WHAT COMPELS YOU?

Winning sports teams put in hours of practice. They schedule time for early workouts, they follow meal plans to meet nutrition goals, and they study to prepare for the next game. Why are they putting in so much time and effort day in and day out? Because they want to win. In other words, they are compelled by a longing to be the best.

We are all compelled by something. The way we go about our days, make our decisions, and spend our time reflects what compels us. When the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV), “For Christ’s love compels us,” he was saying that he and those with him were so radically transformed by the love of Jesus that they had no other option but for their lives to be entirely motivated by this love. Paul was completely captivated by the gospel, and therefore he made decisions and spent his time in a way that reflected that.

A.W. Tozer wrote that most people, if “forced into making a choice between God and money, be­tween God and men, between God and personal ambition, God and self, God and human love…God will take second place every time. Those other things will be exalted above. However the man may protest, the proof is in the choice he makes day after day throughout his life.”

Following God is a beautiful, moment-by-moment jour­ney. Living by faith is an everyday, step-by-step walk with God. When we set our hearts on Him, His comfort brings us joy when anxiety is great within us, and His presence encourages us to not fear because He is our God (Psalm 94:19; Isaiah 41:10).

When the love of Christ compels us, we don’t live for ourselves anymore. We live for Him. When the love of Christ compels us, we are confident in that love and are on a mission to spread His love to the world—even to those who are cruel to us for doing so. When the love of Christ compels us, we start prioritizing what He has spoken over what people feel the need to comment. When the love of Christ compels us, we move forward in a purpose bigger than ourselves. ­And we find that there is no greater joy.

If someone looked at how you spent your time and energy recently, what would they say compels you?