Are you compelled?

What compels you?

Compel (Webster’s 1828 dictionary) - To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force

     Does the Bible contain just a bunch of commands that you feel that you need to try to obey (at least sometimes, when it’s convenient) since Jesus saved you from hell  or are you compelled to heed His every utterance, no matter what the cost?

I’ve been studying through I John recently, particularly the first part of chapter 2.

 “We do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments…Whosever keeps His Word in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in Him.” 2: 3, 5

     That word ‘know’ is the Greek word ‘ginosko.’ This word is the most intimate form of closeness that humans can have. In fact, it’s used to describe marriage relationships. It’s a deep, intimate knowing, the way a husband who has been married to his wife for many years would know a whole lot about her.

So, how can we be certain that we are intimate and close with Jesus? If we are keeping His commands.

     As I pondered these verses, I thought of two illustrations (though I’m certain there are more and that these both fall miserably short in describing the glorious truths of this passage):

When a godly wife is truly, madly, and deeply in love with her husband and has confidence that his sincere and deep desire is to protect, love, honor, care for, and cherish her with the utmost of his being, she will gladly obey and follow his leading. Secondly, what happens when we are so compelled out of sincere gratitude and love for someone? If we know that someone has given up a lot for us or has helped us greatly, it is a great pleasure of ours to seek to please them and bring honor to their reputation.

     Both of these translate to our relationship with Jesus. His commands are not drudgery. We submit to them and obey them out of complete joy. We are certain that only by heeding His voice can life and joy be found. His sincere desire is our good. And He cannot do us harm (Romans 8:28), so we can have absolute confidence in obeying Him that it will turn out for our good. That’s not to say it won’t be hard (it actually requires us to die to ourselves), but it’s worth it and the thought of not enduring whatever we may have to doesn’t even cross our minds. The end goal is our focus: the glory of God.

     It is essential to realize that we can try to muster up all the supposed love and gratitude we have to God, then seek to obey the commands He gives us. However, we will fail. We must become so intimate and close to Him that His life overtakes ours, and He produces His righteousness in us. You see, we know when we are close to Christ and in Him, when His commands are produced through us. His life naturally overtakes ours. Flesh no longer rules but rather is on the cross. His Spirit is at work and thus produces fruit.

 “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. “ Galatians 2: 20

So, I ask again: What compels you?

You know that He commands us to love our neighbor. Do you just try to put up with that annoying co-worker or are you so filled with love for him and desire to see him saved and set free for the glory of God that you cannot but help pour Jesus into him?

You know that He commands us to reach out to the “least of these.” Do you get involved with a few “ministry” activities just to fulfill a command or are you so broken for them that it breaks your heart to not be involved in their lives, living with them, and pouring Truth into them?

You know that Jesus commands us to be pure, to abstain from sexual immorality (I Thessalonians 4:3). Is this some “line” that you have drawn, the whole “So I can do everything up to this point, but I probably shouldn’t go all the way?” Or is purity truly beautiful to you because He is pure? Are you irresistibly desirous to go all the way in being pure because it’s all about His glory and not your own personal pleasure (though I have found the greatest pleasure and delight in seeking purity and set-apartness!)?

     So, instead of stoically following His commands because we have to have slightly higher morals in order to be “good Christians,” let us seek Him in prayer and on our faces until we are driven or urged with irresistible force, constrained, obliged, and necessitated to obey Jesus because we are so madly and deeply in love with Him.