Love without Limits

In 2 Corinthians the Apostle Paul writes, “For the love of Christ urges us on.” He was writing about his ministry. He was trying to express why he was out there starting churches, sharing the gospel, nurturing new believers. It’s interesting because this wasn’t even his full-time job. Paul was a tent-maker, and his ministry was all on top of his day job. But he gave it all he had. Think about how often he faced hardships, persecution, shipwreck, and imprisonment. And if you ever wonder why, here it is. Paul claims that the love of Christ urged him on. 

Notice, it is not the fear of punishment that urged him on. It is not guilt that urged him on. It is not because he thought no one else will do it that urged him on. He was simply compelled by love. He had experienced this tremendous love in his own life, and he wanted to share it.

Today, I pray that you would know the depths of God’s love for you in Jesus. And I pray that love would be the driving force in your life – not guilt, not anger, not self-serving ambition or pride. Doing the right things for the wrong reasons is not healthy and often misses the mark anyway. Instead, may you allow Christ’s sacrificial love to sink in deep. Accept that love and thrive on it! 

Let us pray: This is a day that you have made, O God, we rejoice and are glad in it! We praise you for your love that knows no limits; a love that goes to the cross and transcends even the grave. We praise you for your Son Jesus who offers us life abundant and eternal. Help us to let go of anything that might be keeping us from grasping that love. Draw us into your presence, that we might know you and serve you with all that we are and all that we have. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.