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SANCTIFYING LOVE

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; [...] he died for all, that they which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."
(2 Corinthians 5:14, 15)

The amazing love God has for each of us gives both meaning and direction to our existence. It not only rescues us from futility and despair but His love provides us with transformation and life purpose. It saves us from the tyranny of "now" and "here" and brightens our horizon with the hope of eternity.  At the same time it constrains us to a very peculiar way of living.  God’s love is given to us freely and unconditionally. But its nature opposes all that contradicts its holy character and it does not accept compromise with His righteousness.  Neither does it acccept half-measures.  God's royal command is nothing less than to love God with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength and to let it do its work in us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

God’s love and His righteousness are never in contradiction; they work together for our practical sanctification. God’s supreme act of love for us was manifested at the same time God’s righteousness was satisfied. It was poured upon us as the Lord Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for our sin and rebellion. Such love births within us an eternal loyalty to the Lord Jesus who gave Himself so that we might live. We cannot bask in God’s love while overlooking the reality of our responsibilities and duties as children of God.  God’s love is not an invitation to self-indulgence and tolerance of self.  It is in no way a ground for leisure, egocentrism, idleness or neglect.  Those who come to taste of God’s love experience the mysterious way it works inside.  They learn its sweet constraint and freely consent to its demands, as its work is not carried out through oppression or enforcement, but by binding our heart to the very heart of God.  As we willingly submit ourselves to God’s transforming love, God’s nature becomes more clearly imprinted upon and within us.  We are changed more into His likeness.

Let us surrender to the sweet dominion of God’s love, let it refresh our hearts, strengthen our will, renew our minds, and inspire us to live every moment for the Lord Jesus who died for us and rose again so that He could make us partakers of His glory.