NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
Wednesday, 2nd March, 2005
Why do you serve God?
Simple enough question, isn't it? We could come up with many answers.
</font>
</font>
One of the worst pressures we can put on ourselves to serve the Lord the self pressure. If we ever put the wrong kind of pressure on ourselves to serve we will not live up to the expectations.
However, if we are driven, compelled, and pressured by the love of Christ we learn to just keep on serving. When we have that kind of "constraint" we will never stop serving. We are driven not by a cruel taskmaster, but by the love of Christ, the same love that resulted in Him being "...moved with compassion on them, because they fainted..."
Lord, remind us of what is our constraining force. Help us to be driven on by His love, not by human pressure, not by peer pressure, not by self pressure, but by the love of Christ, through which He gave Himself for us on the cross.
Why do you serve God?
Simple enough question, isn't it? We could come up with many answers.
</font>
- Because its my job, I'm a preacher.</font>
- I want my church to grow.</font>
- The Bible tells me to do so</font>
</font>
- If I don't, Pastor will be knocking on my door.</font>
- I don't want to look bad.</font>
- It makes me feel good to do my part.</font>
- I want to be considered a success.</font>
- If I serve God He will bless me.</font>
I love this old King James word "constraineth." It may not mean much to our 21st century ears and it may roll roughly off the tongue, but I think it captures best the meaning that Paul intended under the Holy Spirit's direction. Some versions use "control" or "compel" and I suppose they are fine, but I prefer this word "constraineth." The old Webster's dictionary defines it this way, "To compel or force; to urge with irresistible power, or with a power sufficient to produce the effect." I heard a preacher one time describe this word with the idea of water being forced through a tight channel. The idea is the thing which "pressures" us to serve the Lord.For the love of Christ constraineth us...
One of the worst pressures we can put on ourselves to serve the Lord the self pressure. If we ever put the wrong kind of pressure on ourselves to serve we will not live up to the expectations.
However, if we are driven, compelled, and pressured by the love of Christ we learn to just keep on serving. When we have that kind of "constraint" we will never stop serving. We are driven not by a cruel taskmaster, but by the love of Christ, the same love that resulted in Him being "...moved with compassion on them, because they fainted..."
Lord, remind us of what is our constraining force. Help us to be driven on by His love, not by human pressure, not by peer pressure, not by self pressure, but by the love of Christ, through which He gave Himself for us on the cross.