Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
July 26, 1993
Good Morning!
For the past two weeks, we have been discussing three qualities
that characterize people who are maturing spiritually:
FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE
Back in 1954 as an 18 year old Marine, I found myself alone on
a Tokyo street corner. An attractive girl approached me and asked
if I would like to spend the night with her. In that moment the
Holy Spirit flashed II Corinthians 5:14 into my heart and mind:
"The love of Christ constrains me."
As I pondered that little verse I thought, "Lord, how
could I damage the love relationship that you and I enjoy?"
So I walked away.
The word "constrain" literally
means "arrest." Christ had "arrested"
me with His love.
If you arrested by the love of Christ three qualities
should emanate from your life:
(1) A deepening awareness of His love toward you:
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of
Christ..." (Ephesians 2:18, 19)
(2) A growing pattern of obedience toward the word of
God:
"The more a man learns to obey God's laws the more truly
and fully does he express his love for Him..." ( I John
2:5 Phillips)
(3) A life of practical and sacrificial involvement in
the lives of others:
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren...Let us not love with
word...but in deed and truth. (I John 3:16, 17)
Constrained by Christ's love? Yes! ARRESTED by Christ's
love? YES!
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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