Controlling Love

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 2, 2016

By Tripp Prince

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. 2 Cor. 5:14-15

What does it mean to be controlled by the love of Christ? In most cases, this would be a negative thing. “They’re so controlling” isn’t exactly something you’d want people to say about you! Yet here Paul rejoices in the Christian’s submission to the controlling love of Jesus. How can this be?

When we think about people who are controlling, we often think of the way that they force their own needs or desires upon someone else, often against their will. It is rarely done from a place of love or compassion but is instead a way to manipulate, coerce, or abuse others.

The word from 2 Corinthians 5 that we translate as “control” is a multi-faceted word. It can mean “to control, to compel, to urge, and to be seized with.” Paul takes this word and points us in one direction: the cross of Christ.

On the cross we see the truest display of love that the world has ever seen. We see a love that cares not for its own needs but gives freely and sacrificially for the life of the world (Jn. 6:51). It is the opposite of the controlling and manipulative love that we rightly fear and avoid. To submit ourselves to the controlling love of Christ is to open ourselves up to receive the pure and holy love of God.

As we receive the love of God, we are compelled and urged to model our own lives after this self-giving love. We are “seized with” the love of God and therefore “compelled” to live no longer for ourselves but for Christ alone. We embark upon the lifelong journey towards Christlikeness. On this journey we are invited to take our broken and distorted views of love and place them at the foot of the cross. We come to Christ and ask him to heal the wounds of our heart that we might be made whole. We ask him to give us eyes to see what true love is so that we can love others with the love that he gives to us.

Paradoxical though it may sound, the controlling love of Christ is the only way to true and perfect freedom!

 

Prayer

Father, fill us with the perfect love of Christ that we might love others as you have loved us.

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Application

What distorted or broken definitions of love do you need to bring to the foot of the cross to be transformed and healed?

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Related Reading

John 13:1; Romans 8:39; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Jude 21

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Post/Tweet today

Paradoxical, being controlling by the love of Christ is the only way to true and perfect freedom! #wisdomhunters #controllinglove

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