How Compelling...

Compel. It’s such a strong word. When you wake up in the morning… what compels you? In the words of Webster’s Dictionary, what “forces and drives” you to a “course of action”? What “overpowers and influences” you to get out of bed and go about your day? I was lying in bed yesterday thinking of all I had to do. Thinking of the 7 page, To-Do List sitting on my desk at work. Thinking about how I want to be completely unpacked in my new apartment. Thinking about how I need to go on a diet. Thinking about all sorts of things… but especially, thinking about how all I want to do is live my life in my “sweet spot.” [If you don't know what I mean about Sweet Spot, read the rest of my Blog!] So... This verse came to mind…

“For the love of Christ compels us…” (2 Cor. 5:14)

I started thinking… Is it really Christ’s love that compels me? Is He really the “force” that drives me? Is His love in me the very thing that overpowers me to want to get up and out of bed? And most of all, is it His love that drives me to live in my “sweet spot”? Does Christ’s love in me give me the passion to love others and to want to help them and change their lives? Encouraging them to be the best they can be and live in their God-given destiny? Is it because of God’s love that I want to live in a place where I use the gifts He has given me to bring glory to His name? The answer most of the time… is No. It’s usually NOT God’s love that compels me. So many times, it’s my selfishness. The desire for MY life to be what I want it to be. To be able to do what I want to do and when I want to do it….

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit…” (Phil. 2:3)

In reading this verse, consider the definition of Ambition:

1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment
2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after

So often, it is my own selfish ambitions that get the best of me… my OWN “earnest desires for some type of achievement”. I'm not fooling myself in to thinking that it's always for "God's best interest" that I pursue the dreams in my life. I think it's ok that we have our own goals & hopes for our future, but my point is... to keep selfishness out!

When I consider the verse below… it makes me want to run far, far, far away… from my selfish ambitions, and instead seek Christ more so that His love will compel me in all things!!!

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:16)