REFLEXIONS

“ For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us… ” ( 2 Corinthians 5:14 , AMP).   The thrust of this passage is clear: we are controlled by the love of Christ. But what is not immediately apparent is what is meant by “the love of Christ” and “controls us”. How are we to understand these phrases? In other then to reap the benefit of our text and be transformed and freed from conformity to the world which, ultimately, is God’s good and acceptable and perfect will for us, we must explore the meaning of the phrases further. The phrase “the love of Christ” can mean two things and both are equally appropriate in the context. First, “the love of Christ” can signify the love which Christ has for us and has displayed in giving His life for our redemption (1 John 4:9). Alternatively, “the love of Christ” can be used in the sense of our love toward Him, so that because we love Him, we keep His commandment (John 14:15) The two usages of the phrase “the love of Christ”, as we have just

“ …God has called you to peace. ” ( 1 Corinthians 7:15 , ESV)    The kind of peace to which I intend to focus our mind here is the peace which the “God of peace” gives. It is a gift which He bestows on those who have a vital relationship with Him and whose trust is in Him. “Peace”, as translated from the Hebrew word ‘shalom’ (Old Testament) and the Greek word ‘eirene’ (New Testament) have similar and extraordinarily rich variety of meanings. “Wholeness”, "prosperity" and “completeness” are some all-encompassing words that have been used to define it. The term “peace of God” reminds us to distinguish between the peace that God gives and the peace the world gives. “ While people [in the world] are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them… ” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 , ESV). But Jesus says, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afrai

 “ Pray all the time ” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 , The Message) “ Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. ” ( Luke 18:1 , The Message) From our scriptures for this article we grasp the mind of God concerning how the prayer-life of a believer should look. The very valuable lesson here is that prayer ought to be a very ubiquitous activity in the true believer’s life. Pray all the time, pray consistently and never quit. It should be a natural instinct for us to call out “Abba, Father”! Prayer is the privilege to draw near to the throne of God’s grace and confidently ask, seek, and knock. And it is powerful for through it we receive mercy and find grace in the time of need. In prayer we ask because there is a need, we seek because something lost needs to be found, and we knock with determined perseverance and importunity. Unfortunately not many Christians realise the amazing privilege and power of prayer, and have been wont to tre