Compelling Love

Jesus gave all for us, so that by faith we could be redeemed into the family of God. It is our reasonable service and joy to give all that we are to Him. He declared his central mission in John 3:16, inviting all who have ears to hear to believe in Him and receive everlasting life.

John 3:16 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

Believers in Jesus are called to walk worthy of the Lord, bearing with one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4 (NKJV)
Walk in Unity
¹ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Matthew 26 describes Peter’s attempt to protect Jesus with his sword. Jesus admonished Peter and said that he could call for twelve legions of angels, “but then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Matthew 26 (NKJV)
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
⁵⁰ … Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. ⁵¹ And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁵² But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

The singer and evangelist, Ray Overholt (1924-2013) wrote the beloved hymn “Ten Thousand Angels” based on this Scripture, with the following chorus:

He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

In Psalm 22, David describes the painful trials and victorious faith of the righteous. The words of the first sentence were spoken by Jesus from the cross. Many physical details of the Crucifixion of Christ were also depicted in this Psalm. Verses 27-28 describe end time events including a worldwide turning to the Lord, and His ruling over the nations. Believers today have the privilege of being part of this final great awakening through prayer and sharing of the gospel.

Psalm 22 (NKJV)
The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah
¹ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
² O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
³ But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.
⁵ They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

²⁷ All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
²⁸ For the kingdom is the Lord’s,
And He rules over the nations.

Isaiah 7 describes virgin birth of the Messiah. In verse 4, the Lord commanded Isaiah to go to King Ahaz, who was being threatened by the armies of Syria, and tell him, “take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted”. In verse 11, the Lord then challenged the fearful Ahaz to pray deeply and request a sign. Ahaz declined, not wanting to test the Lord. Then Isaiah spoke a prophecy for the entire house of David, declaring the greatest sign of all – the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world, who would be born of a virgin.

Isaiah 7 (NKJV)
³ Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, ⁴ and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

The Immanuel Prophecy
¹⁰ Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹ “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

In Colossians 3, Paul teaches on living in the character of the new person that we are in Christ, loving one another as He loves us. Verses 18-24 contain instructions for husbands, wives, children and servants. In verses 17 and 23 he exhorts believers to do all in the name of Jesus, as unto Him.

Colossians 3 (NKJV)
Character of the New Man
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home
¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Doing all for Jesus out of love, you will be blessed in this life and the next when the angels of God come to take you home.

David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/

Today in Israel there is much rejoicing that the remaining hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023  are now being released. Also, in Gaza many Palestinians are celebrating the release of many prisoners held in Israeli jails for crimes committed years ago. Also, six Ukrainian children were released this week who were being held in Russia due to contingencies of war, thanks to first lady Melania Trump’s personal intervention with Vladimir Putin. These families with loved ones being released from captivity have much cause for rejoicing.

Another cause for great rejoicing is when God frees a person from the guilt of sin. In Psalm 32, David declares that God forgives the guilt of those who confess their sins to Him with a contrite heart.

Psalm 32 (New Living Translation – NLT)
¹ Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is put out of sight!
² Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
    whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
³ When I refused to confess my sin,
    my body wasted away,
    and I groaned all day long.
⁴ Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
    My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Selah

⁵ Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
    and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
    And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.  Selah

⁶ Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
    that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
⁷ For you are my hiding place;
    you protect me from trouble.
    You surround me with songs of victory.  Selah

When we confess our sins and truly commit ourselves to follow Him, God promises to guide us along the best pathway for our life

⁸ The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.
⁹ Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
    that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

¹⁰ Many sorrows come to the wicked,
    but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
    Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Jesus likewise promises in Matthew 5:8 (NKJV), “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” He also promised to set people free by the Spirit of the Lord at the beginning of his ministry in Luke 4:18-19 (NLT), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 exemplifies seeking and receiving God’s forgiveness and freedom from sin.

Psalm 51 (NKJV)
¹ Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

Jesus promised that his followers would know the truth, and the truth would set them free.

John 8 (Today’s New International Version)
³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1 (NKJV)
¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

He boldly declared in John 14:6 (NKJV), ““I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jesus is coming again soon. Get ready, be watchful, and occupy till he comes. Purify yourself with this hope that is in you.

1 John 3 (NKJV)
² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The recent song, “The Trumpet Will Sound” describes his soon coming.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/706176369153820

1. The trumpet will sound
The sky will break
Every knee will bow
Every heart will shake

2. The King of glory
Riding on the clouds
The Savior of the world
His name we cry out

3. Jesus is coming
The heavens declare
Holy, Holy
The nations will stand

4. The Lamb who was slain
Crowned as the King
For ever and ever
His praises we sing

5. The dead will rise
The saints will rejoice
Every tribe and tongue
Will lift up one voice

6. No more sorrow
No more pain
When Christ returns
He will forever reign

7. Jesus is coming
The heavens declare
Holy, Holy
The nations will stand

8. The Lamb who was slain
Now crowned as the King
Forever and ever
His praises we sing

9. Like lightning flashing
From the east to the west
Our Redeemer comes
In glory and rest

10. Be ready, be watchful,
The hour is near
Lift up your hands
For our king will appear

11. Jesus is coming
Let every heart sing
Glory and honor
To Christ our King

12. The heavens are open
The Kingdom has come
Worthy is Jesus
The victorious One.

David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/

Followers of Christ have a new life in him, as Paul declares in Galatians 2:20,

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

If your life is dedicated to bringing praise to God, then He is living in you.
David declares in Psalm 22:3 that God inhabits the praises of His people:

Psalm 22:3 (World English Bible – WEB)
But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

The lives of Charlie and Erika Kirk exemplify such a consecration. Her speech at the memorial service on Sunday, September 21 – eleven days after her husband’s murder on September 10, reflected the call God had put on his life which she also shares. Her words of forgiveness for the young man who killed her husband were especially moving:

“When he went onto campus, he was looking to show them a better path—a better life that was right there for the taking.
My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. That young man… that young man… On the cross, our Savior said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
That man… that young man… I forgive him. I forgive him because it’s what Christ did. And it’s what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer—we know from the gospel—is love. Always love. Love for our enemies. Love for those who persecute us.”

Jesus describes in Matthew 16 how those who refuse to give their lives to God will lose their lives eternally. He then declares that when the Son of Man comes again, he will reward each according to their works.

Matthew 16 (NKJV)
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Asaph describes in Psalm 73 how he became very discouraged seeing righteous people living in great hardship, while wicked greedy people were thriving. Then the Lord showed him that people whose lives are given over to greed would be destitute in eternity. He repented and gave his heart to the Lord completely, looking forward to an eternity in heaven with God.

Psalm 73 (NKJV)
Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
²² I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Jesus declares in John 14:3 that he will come again and receive his followers into heaven with him.

John 14 (NKJV)
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
¹  “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

When Thomas asks how can they know the way, Jesus answers with the memorable words of John 14:6.

⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus then promises that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to live in believers.

Jesus Promises Another Helper
¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Charlie Kirk was an evangelist in the vein of the Apostle Paul, dedicated both to leading people to faith in Christ, and “trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)

Colossians 1 (English Standard Version – ESV)
Paul’s Work for the Church
My work is to tell the complete message of God. ²⁶ This message is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone for ages, but now it has been made known to God’s holy people. ²⁷ God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory. ²⁸ So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.  

Charlie was indeed a martyr for Christ. In his “Prove Me Wrong” debates across college campuses, he used the political and cultural topics as a gateway for evangelism, winning thousands to Christ. One of his favorite Bible verses was Isaiah 6:8, ^“Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Who can I send? Who will go for us?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!” His beloved wife Erika’s answer to that call is the same as that of her husband, “Here I am. Send me!” His martyrdom was not in vain. As she declared at the memorial service, “Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work we will make ten times greater through the power of his memory.” Together Charlie and Erika Kirk exemplify the message of Colossians 3:23 (NLV), “Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.”

David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/

David writes in Psalm 24:3-4, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart …” He declares and promises Psalm 24:7, ^“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.”

Psalm 24 (NKJV)
¹The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
² For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
⁵ He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

⁷ Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.

The King of glory enters our lives when we believe and receive Him by grace. We are born again and all things become new.

John 1 (NKJV)
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3 (NKJV)
³ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Jesus declared in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.” By His grace when we receive him with faith, he cleanses and redeems us, and makes our hearts pure. He then commissions us to be “the light of the world”.

Matthew 5 (NKJV)
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

Matthew 5 (NKJV)
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Paul emphasizes the importance of keeping our eyes and minds focused on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue and praiseworthy.

Philippians 4 (NKJV)
Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts
¹ Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

John writes in 1 John 3:2-3 that when Christ is revealed, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

1 John 3 (NKJV)
¹ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. ²⁴ Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Jesus had only one thing against the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5, “that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” May we remember our first love, and obey His first and great commandment:

Matthew 22 (NKJV)
³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/