The Love of Christ Controls Us

The Love of Christ Controls Us…

When planning our getaway, both Danny and I looked at maps and studied where the best bluebonnet blooms happen and which roads were good riding but non interstate. He had plans and I had plans. We also had friends going with us and they had plans as well. Between all of us we finally came to an agreement and the plan was good. But what would have happened had someone taken all the control of the event? Someone has to lead but the road captain doesn’t have to make all the decisions. He just has to get us there safely. 

In faith and in life we like to have control, take control and be in control.  Many times we like to call all the shots and then put a cross on them. It makes it look good. But that doesn’t give us God’s seal of approval does it? Sometimes we let others control our lives and we call it love. We succumb to their demands in the flesh and try to respond in the spirit. But if we’re not careful we’ll be under their thumb and not realize that we are now in control but it’s fleshly control.

God wants you to know that He has a plan to remove your control issues. His love is meant to be our sole controlling factor. He understands all the decisions you have to make, all the people you want to please and all the voices calling out your name – for help, assistance, relief, blame and more. But He says this morning, let My Love be your control. Let My choices be your choices. Let Me handle the things you aren’t meant to handle. Give your problems, your ministry, your family, your friends, your work, your church and your hobbies over to me. You are not called to be a juggler or a people pleaser. You are called to be a    Christ died for you, so that you no longer have to live for yourself or to please man, but for Him who died and rose again on your behalf.

He also wants you to know if you will quit trying to control things, you will see a light at the end of your tunnel. You will find sweet release in letting Christ control everything. You will still make decisions but they will be based on the Word of God carried out in Agape love. You’ll no longer have to worry about what people will think. And when you get condemnation from wherever it may come, you can speak to it and tell it to leave. You don’t have to be in control anymore. In fact it is only in your emptied state that God can take over. He’s the One who set the stars in orbit. He can work it all out for you. He wants to take care of your business and the business of those you love and pray for daily.  Your responsibility may be great, but must be carried out in love and intercession. There you feel no heaviness and you don’t feel like you’re being pulled in two directions. God will take care of your family and your walk with Him. He promises and what He promises He will perform.

Oh beloved, it’s time to let God lead and get out of the way. Move over and let the Love of your life into the driver’s seat. He’s got awesome plans for you. He calls you beloved and He wants to take you where you cannot get on your own. You’ll have to drop the things that want to control you as well.  You might get dropped but you will see it as a promotion not a rejection. Where you are going it is all God and no flesh. But it will be all good because surrounded by His love, captured into His will and living out His blessings is what you were always meant to do.

God loves you and He’s for you so relax and let His love be your controlling force all the days of your life.

2 Corinthians 5:14 Either way, 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.

Micah 4:5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.

Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.

Who Are You Following? God Leads His Redeemed!

The ornaments went on the tree last night. Among them are a rag tag angel from 1956, a plastic Rudolph from 1957, ornaments from each year our children were born, a key ornament given to us from my mother the year we bought the house we live in, motorcycles of all varieties, birds, crosses and more.  Each one is significant in that it holds a special memory in my heart.   Occasionally I’d just like to start from scratch, do something different, make a new memory and decorate the tree totally different. But each year I mention it, someone will invariably say, “Noooo, we have to have it the way we always have!” I understand. I want things to be the way they were when my kids were little. When they just believed what we told them, knew we were right and followed along willingly. We can’t take credit for it, because we didn’t choose Him, He chose us. But we have chosen to follow God, imperfect though we may be - we have chosen to follow Perfection. 

There’s a lot you can follow in this world. You can follow the headlines. Follow the stock market. Follow cattle and timber prices. Follow Paula Deen, Martha Stewart, actors, singers and more. You can follow your own instincts, follow your heart, follow your dreams. You can follow the flesh, follow your cravings, follow the crowd. Everything you follow will end up somewhere. Every person you follow you will end up being taken to an undisclosed destination.  That is until you arrive. Do you know where you’re going?

The wise men followed the Star. They looked up into the sky and set their eyes on that one thing and let it guide them to their destination. Maybe their motives weren’t that pure, after all they were sent by Herod to spy things out for him. Why indeed would a King of his stature be worried about a baby born in Bethlehem? 

We follow Christ all the way. From the Babe in a manger to the Teacher on the hillside, to the Crucified on Golgotha’s hill. But we don’t leave Him in the manger… We follow His beatitudes but we don’t call him Teacher… We follow the cross, but He’s not dead….We follow Him past the grave for He is Risen…we follow the eastern sky…for we look for His return.

Oh beloved! Who are you following and where do you want to go? If you are looking for a different destination then you’ll have to change your course. Follow Christ! Perhaps you have a loved one or loved ones who are following things that will hurt them, destroy them, or take them where they don’t need to go. Pray for them to follow Christ! Keep praying, keep seeking, keep asking! For Christ Himself has promised He will answer when we call! No one else may believe that God will answer, but you can be assured that when the course is changed the destination will be changed as well.  

He says to you this morning, Behold I AM the One Who is Risen and Coming Again for you and for all who put their trust in Me! Look for Me in every aspect of your life! Watch for Me in every situation of your life! Rest in Me for every heartache and pain in your life. Look up! As you follow Me with your whole heart I will show you great and magnificent things you have only longed for and dreamed of!  You may not have seen all the answers to your prayers yet, but I AM the One Who hears you, Who answers you and Who blesses your life. Every one of my Promises is truer than the stars in the sky and the moon in its orbit. Nothing is too difficult for Me. Follow Me and together we will redecorate your life for My glory! I love you and I AM for you and on that you can depend.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

2 Peter 1:19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

I Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Colossians 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Exodus 15:13 With Your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In Your might, You guide them to Your sacred home.

Psalm 43:3 Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.

Micah 4:5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.

All of God's Promises Are True for You!

There was such a huge crowd in Fayetteville this past week-end. Walking together was a big deal too. There were so many people walking up and down the streets that you had to hang on tightly to stay together. Once our hands loosened and I found myself walking across the street alone. I felt a presence behind me and a real chill as I began to worry. Finally, I decided I’d just have to turn around and look. Thankfully Danny was catching up with me and grabbed my hand.  If someone else was following me, they were gone and I was thankful.

There is an enemy of our soul who wants to follow us everywhere we go. He’s called a “roaring lion” and is described as “seeking whom he may devour”. His character is described as crafty, shrewd and devious. He’s also good at being deceitful, falsehearted and lying. While this is not a full description it is sufficient to say he’s up to no good. He’s like the wolf in Red Riding Hood – dressed as grandmother but inside he’s still a wolf. He promises one thing but does another.

There is a Lover of our soul who promises to follow us everywhere we go. His character is Faithful and True.  What He promises He will do. And, all of His promises are exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think. We never have to look over our shoulder because goodness and mercy are following us. He is always seeking our good and His glory. He is like no other – He is the King of Glory!

Oh beloved, run to the Word this morning and read: all of God’s promises were written just for you! Learn all His promises, study all His precepts. Know that He is always with you, always for you and always watching out for you. He’ll never lead you wrong and He’ll always make things right for you. Even when the enemy tries to trick, deceive or lie, God is never going to leave you alone. I know it can feel like you are walking alone, it can feel like our soul is in danger and that problems will never cease. But the Lord says to you today Trust Me as I guide you into All Truth. Honor Me as I show you how to walk regardless of the circumstances. Love Me as I have loved you. All of My Kingdom is yours as you are my child – my heir.  Honor Me and I will honor you.

God knows your situation. He’s leading you through each one, He’s following you with blessings and He’s carrying you all the way to heaven! Hallelujah what a Savior, who loves you and is on your side and that’s truly all that matters!

Proverbs 29:25 “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”

Psalm 95:7  for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today!

Psalm 139:5  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.