Motivated by Love
This week we have focused on answering the question, “Why witness?” We have discovered that as we share our faith, we have the joy of cooperating with God in His mission to the world. Our witness of His love provides people with greater opportunities for salvation, since they can see more clearly His grace and truth.
At the same time, witnessing also is one of God’s means of helping us grow spiritually. A failure to share what Christ has done for us and to minister to others strangles genuine spiritual life.
Witnessing places us in touch with the heart of the One who longs for all humanity to be saved. It is a response of obedience to His command. In today’s study, we will examine the greatest motivation of all for witnessing.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 18–20. What motivated Paul to experience trials and tribulations for the sake of the gospel? How can this same motivation prompt our service for Christ?
The apostle Paul was motivated by love. There are things you will do for love that you will do for no other reason. When the apostle declares, “The love of Christ constrains us,” he is speaking an eternal truth. The word “constrains” means “to urge, to impel, to control, or to highly motivate.” Thus, the love of Christ controlled Paul’s actions and motivated his witness. With undaunted purpose and singleness of mind, he shared the plan of salvation throughout the Mediterranean world.
“Love must dwell in the heart. A thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of action from his deep heart-love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for Christ springs an unselfish interest in his brethren.”—Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, p. 425.
When we truly recognize the immense sacrifice Christ has made for us, we are overwhelmed by His love and compelled to share with others what He has done for us.
The One who created all creation (the galaxies, the stars, the angelic host, the entire cosmos, and other worlds) was the One who died on the cross for us. How can this astonishing truth not create in us a love for God and a desire to share that love?
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