Compels us

2 Cor:5:14

Christ's love controls us.

Christ's love compels us. It pushes us to obey radically, illogically (in world's eye view).

There are people who forsake a lucrative career and prospective of earning tonnes, to go out to the unreached.

There are people who forsake scholarships to Oxford and Yale and high scores in competitive exams, just to obey what their Father has told them.

I know such people personally.

But did they gain something (in accordance to the standards of the world)? Nothing. They have only lost. But they go back, contented, satisfied, knowing fully that they obeyed what their Father has told them to do, in His wonderful and perfect plan.

Because this God's love compels them.

In the middle of joint pains and frustrations, if you have been available for your brother. In the middle of your prospective career growth, if you are taking an off route, because you felt called to do something different. When others are running in one direction, you felt compelled to take another turn and you take it despite discouragements and ridicule and mockery from every side..... That's Christ's love compelling us.

It need not be a successful route also. The outcome is not important (again as the world looks). The process. The humbling. The obedience. The transformation. That is more pertinent.

Does Christ's love compel me to take radical decisions?

Does Christ's love compel me to set aside unwanted habits?

Does Christ's love compel me to obey, no matter what?

Does Christ's love compel me to forsake interests and desires, wants and needs for obedience and discipline?

If not. Christ's love is not even in me.

Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/film?phrase=crown+of+thorns+with+blood+dripping.&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fvideos%2Fcrown-of-thorns-with-blood-dripping.

Comments

Permissible

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor:6:12 Everything is permissible. But not everything is beneficial. Let it not overpower you. You shall not be addicted to it. Definitely not the vice things. But the not so harmful things. The harmless habits. Things that you can, but would you? Does it edify you? Is it beneficial? 1 Cor:10:23 is the litmus test. Does it bring God glory? Ask yourself. Why do I want to do this? Does it bless me? Or will it take me farther away from God. Put your thoughts to what you do. Do not go with the trend. Just because others are doing. Just because of the hashtag. Just to be viral. Just to gain acceptance. Is it good? Is it profitable? Will I be mastered by it? Is it beneficial? Image credit: https://www.whoa.in/gallery/funny-men-wallpaper

To discipline

1 Cor:9:27 But I discipline my body and make it my slave. Self control is a discipline. A gift. A fruit. A quintessential quality for a disciplined, gifted and fruitful life. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. To beat my body. To discipline literally means, to hit under the eye. To knock the body out, so that you may win. Regarding gluttony, lust, negative thoughts, anger, hatred, vengeful words. Have self control. Keep quiet when you need to. Say no, when you ought to. Keep the mouth shut, when you are supposed to. It is not just the willpower, but about grace too. Both are important for self control. If you don't have the will power ask for GRACE. Grace is always there. Seek grace, because it is made available always. It is just that once you are made aware of the need, you seek, you pursue. You might fall occasionally. But get up and start from scratch. It is worth it. Image courtesy: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32...

Let it be....

Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 1 Cor:6:7 Not that you would be wronged or defrauded. But it doesn't matter when you are wronged. Let it be. Let you be wronged. Let yourself be snatched from. Let yourself be misunderstood. Let you be blamed wrong. When you are affected, when it happens to you, that is self being dented. When others cheat you, if you are hurt then that is ego. You think, people think of you what you are actually not, why do you get affected. What does it cost you if others have a wrong opinion about you? Where is the attitude of Christ? Who was fully misunderstood, fully blamed wrongly. If I am sure of my identity in Christ i would never feel bad. He never misunderstands me. He never judges me. He knows me in and out. It is only His opinion that matters. Then let others wrong me. Christ took the freedom to let me go through this. Image credit: https://daily.wordreference.com/2025/07/17/intermediate-word-of-the-day-snatch/

Immorality rebuked

1 Cor:5:1-5 This is not something to be done away with. It is rebuked by Paul and he promises to deal with it the moment he comes. It is to be taken seriously. Well I don't commit such atrocities in my life. I am pure. If any one looks at a woman with lustful eyes, says Jesus in Matt:5:28, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Be it offline, or online. Or on the Billboards or posters or in reality. Be it in your fantasy or in actual world. God defines it as adultery. Period. It is something that has to be dealt seriously and drastically. It is not to be pushed under the carpet. Paul says, such man, he has to be handed over to satan, so his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Jesus, May my eyes be pure And my heart be set apart For you my only husband. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=boy+computer+night&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fboy-computer-night

Crave - a poem

We would not crave evil things. 1Cor:10:6 Despite knowing His love unconditional to me. Despite knowing that it was my wretchedness That nailed Him to the cross. Why would I crave the very things He abhor? The very things my husband hate. I end up desiring, longing for This lover who gave His life and privileges for me. Him, I disappoint yet again. For it is the heart's motive that He looks for. It is the heart's desire that He looks into. What my heart longs for And who my lover yearns for? Selfish; idolator; immoral; gambler Dissatisfied; discontented; complainer. Adulterer in the heart. Murderer in the mind. Every thought in my heart, brings a teardrop in His eye. Why am I tuned like this? Why am I so fallen? Oh! Wretched man, that I am Who will deliver me from this hopelessness. The word "grace" is yet beautiful Favour when I don't deserve it. Difficult as I am, He still loves me. Improbable to be rectified; He still gives grace. He would transf...

Love

But do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Cor:13:2 Love is the center. Love is the core. Paul talks about apostleship, prophesy, miracles, gifts of healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues as secondary to love. 1 Cor:12:32. But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. Lord, teach me to love - my loved ones - unconditionally. With no tags. Just as you have loved me. Lord, teach me to love - my neighbour, my brother. Just as I love myself. Remove the self tag in my love. Lord, teach me love. Your love. Love that is patient. Love that is kind. Not seeking my own. Not taking into account the wrong suffered. Help me to still love. Bearing all things. Enduring all things. Teach me to love with a love that never fails. Teach me to love with a love that will always be there. No matter what. Lord teach me to love. Image credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/15niky/just_because_youre_mad_at_someone_doesnt_mean_you/

Comfort in sorrow

2 Cor:2:7-8 You should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. When someone is sorrowful. 1. Forgive - forgive him for what He has done unknowingly or knowingly, personally and publically, verbally or physically, out of his sorrow. Just forgive. Just forget. Give another chance. Keep on giving one more. 2. Comfort - tell him it's okay to feel so. To feel overwhelmed. Tell him, I am there for you. God sees you and knows you. 3. Affirm your love to him - tell him I love you. I am there for you through thick and thin. To the best that I can, I will be there. You are not facing it alone. I am praying for you. Do not judge. Do not label. Do not gossip. Image courtesy: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/child-and-dog-comfort-and-sorrow-vector-61716299

The halfbaked Bard

Search This Blog