If the love of Christ is pressing us on every side it will eventually point us in one steady direction. The love of Christ will lead us and so manifest itself in our lives that it will not only guide us towards Jesus in our daily walks but also grab the attention of others as they watch our lives and see who we are living for. Thus it will be that very love of Christ compelling us that will land our hearts before Him in His word daily seeking His will and His guidance as to how to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27) And as we are living by the love of Christ we can be assured that we will also be pressed on every side by the troubles of this world in an attempt to be thwarted by the enemy. As I was musing over being pressed on every side. The Lord brought to my mind the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are hard pressed on every side, we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” Which goes right along with the assurance that we will be in battle as we are trying to live a life compelled by the love of Christ. We are going to battle two 'things' first the sinful flesh that confines us until heaven and second the devil. We must be victorious in these battles. In and of ourselves we can not be victorious over anything, but rather our victory lies in the cross of Christ. We must combat the enemy of sinful flesh by this, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Ro 13:14 And then we must, “Submit therefore to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
The word of God gives us much hope, it tells us we will be hard pressed on every side (this pressed is not the same as in 2 Cor 5:14) although it is similar in meaning the context tells us it is referring to the trials that will come our way. And as we read that we will be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down the victory that Christ Himself gives us is that we will not be in despair...we are never without HOPE! We will not be forsaken, Christ will NEVER leave us (heb 13:5). We will not be destroyed, Christ Himself protects us and no matter what may happen to us on earth when we belong to Him we will not be destroyed because we have a heavenly home that awaits us based on the blood of the Lamb.
As I've been reflecting on being pressed on every side by the love of Christ, I've been searching through the scriptures and finding that as God speaks of being pressed He shows us that it is His love and His sacrifice that guides our hearts towards Him. It is His infinite grace the makes provision for us to be kept by Him. He guides us and directs us towards Him. Putting on the Lord Jesus as in Romans 13:14 is much like being pressed on every side by the Love of Christ. Being guided as a ship through a strait into a narrow channel. Surrendering our lives to the love of our Lord that we can be guided through a narrow channel (Matthew 7:13). Being compelled to live by the love of Christ. Being compelled to be a wife, mother, sister, friend, aunt, child of God that honors and glorifies God as a result of the love of Christ within you! I'd encourage you to begin praying the words in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” Beg God to increase and overflow His love within you for your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your co-workers....the lost!! Ask Him to give you His love for the world around you to His glory and watch Him change your heart!
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