For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.—2 Corinthians 5:14-17
All that Paul and his companions did they did to bring glory and honor to their God. Christ’s love motivated and controlled them. According to the Life Application Bible the word “compels” means to “hold fast.” Christ’s love held them fast to their course of action. Read the words of Philippians 2:4-8
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Beloved, Jesus died so each one of us could have life. Because He did this, we are to no longer live for ourselves, but for the one who died for us and rose again. We are to become dead to our old self. Like Christ, like Paul, we are to no longer live to please ourselves but to please our God. The Holy Spirit has given us a new life. We have been re-created...we are new creations...we have a new life and a new Master.
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.—Colossians 2:6-7
Psalm 45 (Today’s OYB Psalm) speaks to this. The heart of the psalmist here is overflowing with a good theme. He recites his composition concerning the King and speaks in verses 1-9 of the glorious beauty and majesty of Jesus, the Son of God.
1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.
3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
With Your glory and Your majesty.
4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies;
The peoples fall under You.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,
Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
9 Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women;
At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
Verses 10-11 of Psalm 45 spoke to my own heart today because they complemented and expounded on the passage above from 2 Corinthians 5. Here the Psalmist speaks to us, His royal Bride.
Listen, O daughter,
Consider and incline your ear;
Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
When we give up our lives to Jesus, we are, relatively speaking, to hate all that might once have been dear to us. We are to love Christ more than we love anything or anyone else and this love is to be reflected in our actions. His desires become our desires. We want what He wants. Our beauty will be manifested in our single-minded, undivided heart of love for Him. Beloved, adorn yourselves with the beauty of holiness.
For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. (Isaiah 54:5, ESV)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (Psalms 95:6, ESV)
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.—Philippians 2:9-11
1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
9 Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1-9
