FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US,

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

APRIL 17

 

2 Corinthians 5:14

For the love of Christ constraineth us;

because we thus judge,

that if one died for all, then were all dead:

 
Love is according to the nature and character of the lover.
 
Jesus possesses a perfect character, and unties in himself the most excellent natures.
 
His love, therefore, is peculiar—peculiarly glorious. It includes pity for sinners, sympathy for, and delight in, his saints.
 
He loves us AS the Father loves him: except therefore we could tell the strength of his Father’s love to him, we cannot tell the strength of his love to us. (John 15:9)
 
Love swells in his heart, 

   looks through his eye, 

   works with his hand, 

   speaks with his tongue, and 

   procures for us by his influence.
 
He considered no condition too low, to stoop to, 

   no action too mean to perform, 

      no failing too foul to pass by, 

        no gift too great to bestow, 

          no sufferings too painful to endure, 

            nothing too mean in his people to prize, 

              no distance too far to travel to do them good.
 
And if we believe the love Christ to us, 

   it will constrain us to surrender ourselves to him;

   to part with all for him; to do, to suffer, or 

   to give any thing in his cause; 

   to proclaim his excellencies, and publish his fame.
 
Does the love of Christ constrain you to be active-zealous-liberal?
 

The love of Christ constrain, to what?

With all our sins to part,

To yield him what his blood hath bought-

Our dearly purchased heart.

 
James Smith