2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-15 – For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

THEME OF THE DAY. HOW WOULD WE KNOW? It’s a great question I am sure sincere Christians asks periodically of themselves. After all, it is the goal in living out the Christian life so it should make its way into our lives as a regular spiritual discipline of self-examination. By the way, it also defines healthy Christianity. The question? It is one tied to the scripture of the day as well as an expansion of today’s nugget theme. It goes like this, “How would we know if we are living the Christian life under the control of Christ’s love?” Surprisingly, the answer is not complex to understand. I didn’t say the answer is easy to live, but it is easy to comprehend. And here is the simple answer – people living under the control of Christ’s love are no longer guided through life by personal desires, pleasures, goals, and agenda. Basically, they are learning to live daily the prayer of our Lord when He languished in the Garden of Gethsemane uttering these words, “Father, not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). But let’s dig a little deeper into the application of what the Apostle Paul wrote characterizes those under the control of Christ’s love – “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised”.

First those living life under the control of Christ’s love have a single eye to live for His praise and approval alone. We are told – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23). When Christ’s love is known and directs our lives, we devalue the approval and affirmation of people. We are driven by the Lord’s approval and affirmation. His love shapes our hearts to love Him back. This is expressed with prayer saying and lives reflecting these words, “Lord all I do in life today and all my days, let it be for Your glory alone”. And here is the real test. We mean it when we pray and live this way. The opinions of us by people is inconsequential. It is His acceptance and approval that matters most.

Another thing in lives lived under the control of Christ’s love is attention on self fades away – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:4-5). We witness an increasing of selfless service to others and a decreasing of selfish focus on ourselves. And like the first truth, we serve not to be recognized by people but simply as acts of love because we are so loved by the Lord Himself.

A third evidence we are living under the control of Christ’s love is an intensifying desire to be with the One whose love controls us – I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:23). Isn’t that only natural? Do we not long to exchange our often-floundering faith for sight? Is there not this yearning within us to be rid of sin – its remaining power and presence – and look into those eyes of love that so loved us that He died for us? That yearning is produced in the Christian under the control of Christ’s love.

So, how would we know? Take a few moments and do a little self-examination to answer that question. It will be a good spiritual exercise.

PRAYER: “Father, may I learn more and more how to live under the control of Your Son’s love.”

QUOTE: “There are only two controlling loves in the world – Christ’s holy love and sinful self-love.”