Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – there is a new me in me, it’s released by love.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT
Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. [15] He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
Observation
I guess we are all controlled by something/s. We do the things we do because of passions or drivers. Some we know, some are disguised. Some come from my brokenness. Some are fuelled by my false self ego. These urges make us do the things we do in life. I wonder how much of my doings are controlled by the love of Christ? I know Gods love for me, I have the pleasure of encountering it personally often. And I know it controls parts of my life’s responses. I see that I am a new creation, I like the new man better than the old guy. And whilst the old guy has died, he still reaches out from the grave and influences me at times.
Life controlled by Christ’s love, my new me life, is a life lived for others. I love this life, it is so much bigger than the small self focused life I once lived. But I am not free from that life’s entanglements. I am often still driven by what is best for me at the cost of others. My western capatalistic mindset still screams “it’s all about you, buy, collect, accumulate, you need more.” And I sing it’s song and dance along. I know I am new but it’s a journey into this new “no longer live for themselves” land.
I know the treasure map to this new precious land of me is not a journey travelled alone. God does not give me the directions and then watch from afar as I navigate and work hard at new me. No, I don’t work hard, I sit long. The new me comes as I still this spinning world long enough to be present in the presence of my God. In His presence I see and experience and participate in His glory, and I am transformed from my encounter into his image. He is my identity (I am made in His image) and I live out His likeness (life lived for others). But I never learn this way of life, I receive it and then reflect it.
Love compels my presence to His presence. There is no manipulation in Gods economy, you come into His presence because love compels you. It’s all love or it’s all wrong. Christ’s love compels me or don’t bother coming. You will never sit in His presence if you have any other motive, or any other motivation. Love rescued me, love compels me, love is my sent mode of operation. Love is my life.
Application
I will be present to love daily, often. I will make a rhythm of being loved by God that His love may be the compelling driver of my life. I will learn and discover the new me from being loved. I will allow God to investigate and converse with me about all the areas of my life that push away love, and I will travel the road of healing that I may be fully loved, that I might fully love.
Response
Thank you that you rescued me from me. You showed me the true self me is found and shaped in your love. Thank you that you show me the life that is lived in the fullness of others. Thank you that love controls my life, when I allow it. I am a blessed man.
Meditation
Meditation truth – Christ’s love controls us.
Consider:
What drives your life?
What old you continues to influence your life?
JOURNEY DEEPER
