2 Corinthians 5:14-21 – “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 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.

16 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. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” NKJV

The KJV says,“The love of Christ constrains us….” It does, and equally appropriate is the rendering “compels us.”  The Love of God is the overriding factor in all our interpersonal relationships with other human beings and with God Himself.  It is the basis by which we render righteous judgments and the motivation (or should be) for all our actions in life.  When we consider the price paid by that Love how we can have any other mindset than one of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration?

Understanding the Love of Christ, we realize that we are not living on an island of our own solitude, but each life touches other lives, and we are all cells within the Body of Christ and important to each other.  So, our regarding others should not be based on the natural but on the work of Christ. 

If we are in Christ, we are a “new creation.”  We are not the same old person that we once were.  We are no longer under the dominion of darkness and have been translated into the Kingdom of Light.  God views us as His Righteousness and so should we, not that we can be puffed up or become Pharisees but so that we might more fully receive and release the Love of God in our lives and to the world.

Love will cause us to seek the root of an issue, not just surface irritation.  Love will cause us to seek the best good of the other person not just setting them straight.  Love will compel us to reach out when we might have otherwise said, “You made your bed now lie in it.”  Love is one of if not the most powerful forces on Earth especially the Agape Love of God.

Therefore, as you consider the impact of God’s Love in your life and to your life then allow that Love to flow through you to others around you and I believe that you will be pleasantly surprised at the long-term response.  It may not happen immediately, but the consistent demonstration of God’s Love will eventually wear down even the hardest hearts and break down the most granite-like walls.

May God be with you as you go through your day.  Blessings!