"For Christ's love compels us",

        -1 Corinthians 15:14,15

     The quality of our most important relationships is a function of the small decisions we make continually. "Shall I ask her how her day was, or just go turn on the T.V. and relax?" "Do I get off the phone to go greet him at the door when I hear the car pull up?" You see, love is a compelling force that moves us toward one another. Sin is a repelling force that causes us to withdraw into our own comfort zone. I may not want to ask my wife how her day went, because maybe I really just don't care at the moment. After all, I'm tired. I worked all day. I just want to plop my feet up on the hassock and chill. The wife may not want to cut her phone conversation short with her best friend, when she hears his car pull up. After all, she hasn't talked to her friend all week, and there's much to catch up on. If we're going to love each other we need to let Christ's love compel us toward one another precisely when it means sacrifice. There is no love without sacrifice. In fact, love without sacrifice is use. We must be compelled to love even when it means risking conflict. It's Christ's love that compels us to do whatever it takes to draw closer, even when it means dealing with conflict. It's sin that causes us to avoid each other. If we find ourselves being repelled, it's probably not love. Sin repels; love is a compelling force.

Prayer For The Both of Us: Lord, let your love compel us to be engaged and stay engaged even when we may risk conflict. Keep us from avoiding one another just because it's more comfortable.