“For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value].” 2 Corinthians 5:14-16a (emphasis added)
WOW! This scripture really grabbed me this week. What if we were completely controlled by the love of Christ? What if, in being thus controlled, we no longer sought to live for ourselves but for the One Who gave Himself for us? And what if we no longer viewed others as mere humans (seeing first their flaws and shortcomings) but rather we first saw each person in light of the fact that Christ loved them enough to die for them?
This perspective could change my life! It could totally revolutionize how I relate to others and how they relate to me.
In John 14:34 Christ issues a huge challenge: “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” He doesn’t just tell us to love one another. He tells us to love others the way He loves us!
Let’s spend the next few days keeping these verses in the forefront of our minds. Meditate on them. Think about how you think about others. How do you see them? Regardless of what we like or don’t like in another person, Christ saw them as special enough to die for. And we are called to love them with that same love.
Think about it…
