For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
The word constraineth means that the love of Christ takes hold of those who belong to Him, compelling and controlling them to joyful obedience and service from the heart. That love is the love shown in His infinite condescension and death on the cross for all, and beholding it renews flagging zeal and subdues the heart to labor for others. His dying for all proves that all were dead and helpless in sin, and those made alive by His death and resurrection are to live no longer for themselves but for Him. He does not drive by force, threats, or fear of punishment, but wins and draws by love alone. Received in the heart, that love becomes the ruling motive of life, expelling selfishness, consecrating all to God, and impelling untiring mission to seek and save those for whom He died.
Meaning of Constraining Love
To constrain means to move and compel, to draw and impel, to captivate and control those who belong to Christ. That constraining power submits the will and way to God and moves to joyful doing of what He commands. It is not bondage, for in conversion the precepts are written on the heart and the principles engraved on mind and soul, so obedience comes from within. The truth abiding in the heart in this way animates and encourages the willing soul, while the love itself remains an abiding power. As the motive of all effort to mold character, especially of children and youth, it impels and captivates, and when Christ is presented in His matchless love His stronger charms eclipse the attractions of the world. Youth are not won by theory alone, however logical, but by seeing His loving character and glory and beholding the riches of the eternal world until they are encouraged, animated, and won.
The love that so constrains is the love revealed in His sacrifice, in His infinite condescension and death on the cross. It is the actuating principle and motive power of conduct and duty, producing self-denial and unmeasured labor for humanity. When ardor in duty flags, looking at the cross and the infinite, amazing love manifested there renews the mind and presses forward anew in self-denial. Labor for others relies on that same manifestation to subdue and constrain hearts, leading those it constrains to enter the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice and to sanctify themselves for the saving of souls. The revelation of divine love in the cross also awakens a sense of neglected obligation to be light-bearers and inspires a missionary spirit. It belongs to the one great central truth of Christ and Him crucified, in whose light alone the exalted character of the law is discerned and through whose work the soul palsied by sin alone receives life, enlightening the mind, sanctifying the soul, banishing unbelief and inspiring faith.
This drawing love is the only compulsion Christ uses; He does not drive men but draws them, wins instead of driving and attracts instead of repelling. Where that love is missing there is no power of Christ present, and men resort to accusation, force, and compulsion to make others comply with their ideas of right. That lack is the secret of all religious laws and all persecution from the days of Abel to the present, including what was done by the Jews in the days of Christ and what the church does whenever she seeks the support of secular power to enforce her dogmas and execute her decrees. Fear of eternal punishment is not needed to bring a rebel to repentance, for this love can draw and subdue even the hardest heart. In personal work it will not rest in quiet indifference and ease while souls go down to death, but grows more earnest and tender as sin is greater and misery deeper, discerning need, going out in sympathy with a helping hand, bringing sufferers to Christ in the arms of faith and love, and watching over and encouraging them so that sympathy and confidence hold them steadfast.
The love must be personally experienced and known in the heart in order to constrain to Christian work. Only those who have experienced it can know Christ and lead others to the fountain of life, and success and fitness as a worker are measured in heaven by ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked. When present it compels believers to reveal Christ in conversation, in a tender, pitiful spirit, and in uplifting the lives of associates. It is known through being strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, being rooted and grounded in love, and knowing the love which passes knowledge until filled with all the fullness of God. This power works as a warming of the heart that cannot be explained, makes a person a partaker with Christ in His sufferings, and shows itself in fervent devotion to His cause. It alone enables the soul to discern unpopular truth, and a perplexed soul must be made acquainted with that love rather than have doctrine alone dwelt upon, through personal effort with heart coming close to heart in warm, genial persuasion and entreaty, in practical conversation as by the fireside, to enlighten how to believe and how to receive the promises.
The verse reasons by judgment that because one died for all, therefore all were dead. That death was for those who live, and those who live through His death and resurrection are directed to stop living for themselves and instead live for Him who died and rose again. This judgment itself is what moves and compels to proclaim the gospel.
Christ Died for All
Christ died for every person, ransoming each one by giving His own life on the cross for salvation, so that no one is to live an aimless, selfish life of self-serving but is to live unto Him and devote every physical, moral and mental power in active, unreserved cooperation with Him as a laborer together with God in helping others. This includes every member of every family, for His death must not be in vain for anyone, and each person is to be ready to meet Him in peace. It includes the colored people in the Southern field, purchased with the blood of God's only begotten Son, for whom appeal has been made ever since release from slavery, requiring more to be done to sustain the work there and to give proper pay and support to suffering ministers lacking the comforts of life, with judgment upon neglect of those who have done little.
His death for all proves that all were dead, for He did everything for people helpless in sin, bound in chains of darkness, sin and despair and able to do nothing for themselves. The infinite worth of the soul is measured only by the price paid to ransom it, which Calvary reveals and explains.
By giving His life He bought people at infinite cost, so they are not their own but belong to God in body, soul and spirit and are bound to Him in a sacred relationship to glorify Him and bear fruit for Him in more than confession. Those bought with a price must not act out their own will but the will of God, submitting to Him that the subduing Spirit may shape heart, life and character. Constrained by that love they are to use their entrusted powers as faithful stewards of His grace, present themselves a living sacrifice as reasonable service, and take personal responsibility and activity in seeking the salvation of others by making known the truth and diffusing the light given them, as every knower of truth is accountable to do. Those redeemed by His blood must not be made to suffer through religious bigotry, for His love moves to willing service and not to service forced by threats or pressure.
His death calls for giving life rather than condemnation to sinners, speaking and acting in ways that reflect His character. His love motivates pleading for the sinner's rescue and hope rather than surrender to Satan, for He bought them with His precious blood, their lives belong to Him, and He draws near to heal and deliver the oppressed. The assurance of God's love, mercy and compassion reaches the endangered soul and draws the sinner to repentance and home to the Father.
Because He died for all, everyone who believes may be cleansed from sin and saved from death. Contemplating His mercy and self-sacrificing love breaks down barriers between people and teaches sympathy, love and sacrifice, moving believers to live for others rather than themselves. In grateful response they give themselves wholly to Him, not asking how little they can give but aiming at full conformity to His will with zeal in proportion to the value of eternal life, as a grateful offering of a sinful soul for Him to purify.
Living for Christ Alone
Because one died for all, all were dead, and His death and resurrection mean that those who live through Him are no longer to live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again. Because He died for every person, ransoming each one by giving His life on the cross for salvation, no one is to live an aimless, selfish life of self-serving, but is to live unto Jesus Christ. Every soul is therefore bound to minister, to use every physical, moral and mental power through sanctification of the Spirit, to devote himself actively and unreservedly to God's service, and to cooperate with Christ as a laborer together with God in helping others, even though not all are called to enter the ministry. That compelling power moves believers to draw others into the path of the redeemed and to live for the glory of the One who gave His life for them. This result comes through personal experience in which the truth as it is in Jesus is treasured in the heart and incorporated into the being, settled and grounded so that no temptation or argument can leave Christ and His wisdom out of the life, giving a firm, solid experience and a masterly influence over all connected with such a life.
The love works through the grace of Christ to overcome hindrances and barriers and leads His followers to give themselves to God in unreserved consecration. Those who receive it give Him their whole affections and surrender their lives to Him because He gave His life for them, and that love leads to unselfish service as a continuing daily practice. His willing death should move His people to gratitude, love, self-denial, and willing consecration of all they have and are to His work, so that no duty is refused under its influence. This constraining and compelling influence moves upon minds with the force of grace, casts aside all hindrances, and exerts power upon souls so that God can work successfully through them, including young and humble workers.
This obedience is not bondage, for those who belong to Him are moved to submit will and way to God and joyfully do His bidding. In conversion God writes His precepts on the heart and engraves His principles on mind and soul. When Christ dwells in the heart, love and joy in fellowship with Him become the source of action, attention to self gives way to wholehearted surrender and desire for full conformity to His will, while obedience done merely to earn heaven without deep love is empty formality.
The love is to be the ruling principle in the soul, exercising constraining power upon the life, bringing it under God's control as the controlling influence on everyday life and the actuating motive with an eye single to God's glory. Those so constrained honor Him by cultivating every grace of character, growing in excellence, devotion, purity and holiness, keeping living connection with God and ambition for the Master's glory, working for transformation of associates and winning those who have not yet confessed Christ through silent, prayerful influence in cooperation with Christ. Where that love does not rule it cannot constrain the life, so God's power has little control even though truth is professed, many favors are received without gratitude, and principles of truth are not incorporated into the life. Where the constraining power is missing, people may profess to obey law and gospel and present claims of truth clearly while remaining carnal, loving and practicing sin in secret, handling truth deceitfully, and failing to believe with the heart unto righteousness and to love God with all the heart, proving truth was never stamped upon the heart and conversion was only superficial. Where it rules it sanctifies the heart and restrains base passions, fortifies youth against the enemy's temptations, imparts more than finite energy and qualifies human beings for divine achievement, with works showing strength of motive. It makes the salvation of men for whom Christ paid an infinite price the grand aim, to which home, family and social enjoyment are secondary, and makes home attractive by kind words, deeds and steadfast right.
When truly received it impels to untiring zeal for the honor of His name, revealed in life and speech. It impels people to honor Christ, magnify the word of truth, and speak in ways that glorify God, to be revealed in ministers, families, students and teachers in elevating and refined speech. It is to govern what is said and done, moving to sacrifice and action for the good of others. So Mary's desire to serve Jesus came from appreciation of Him as the world's Redeemer and Son of God, and her costly gift expressed love nourished by heaven whose value lay in the affection and faith it expressed, not in the ointment itself, as evidence of acts of loving service.
It is the language of those who have surrendered all to God, holding them with complete power because His principles are perfect, filling them with desire for true piety. It moves them to trade upon sacred entrusted talents in God's service to convince and convert others so they in turn will impart to others, instead of concealing talents hidden in the earth or using them in the enemy's service. As they feel deep need of His grace they are ready to devote all abilities to God's work, even if multiplied a thousandfold, for the Holy Spirit puts entrusted powers into God's service and those hungering for Christ are filled with His fullness. Those constrained are diligent in God's work and Word, united in judgment, ready to recognize and name error, dependent on God rather than claiming credit, openly honoring Him, removing what grieves His Spirit, and developing given abilities, since using talents according to Scripture increases ability.
Paul's Constraining Motive
The love of Christ was Paul's motive, driving power and actuating principle of conduct. After his conversion devoted him wholly to Christ, it inspired a life of self-sacrifice and loving ministry and service to all people. It sustained him as he struggled against selfishness and evil and served Christ despite the world's hostility and his enemies' opposition.
When his ardor and zeal in duty flagged, one glance at the cross and its amazing infinite love, revealed in sacrifice and wonderful condescension in giving His life, caused him to renew resolve and press forward anew in self-denial and perseverance. Fixing attention on that unparalleled sacrifice moved his conduct and service. That infinite love has a subduing and compelling, constraining power that inspires and sustains labor for brethren and for others, leading those it constrains to enter the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice and to sanctify themselves for the saving of souls.
That undying, omnipotent motive upheld him through persecution, discouragement, opposition, falsehood, prejudice and false charges. It kept the fear of God before him and kept his conscience clear of dishonesty and unfaithfulness. Through grace he labored in ministry with simplicity and pureness in the Spirit rather than using natural eloquence to gain human praise, honor or reputation for wisdom, with the single aim of the good of souls, watching for souls as one answerable to God, rescuing them from darkness, error and superstition, and strengthening and building up the churches in the most holy faith, preaching with sincerity and simplicity in disinterested love to all. It upheld in conflict with self and the power of Satan, in struggle with spiritual wickedness in high places, and in lifelong labor while pressing forward against the unfriendliness of the world and the burden of personal infirmity, joined to clinging to the cross as the only guarantee of success. It constrains true followers and sustains them in persecution to take the Bible as it reads, discard fables, and stand firm amid test and trial, sword and flame, with faith tried and purified. That love moves them to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, to count the cost, to count not life dear, and to hold truth richer and dearer than life in disobedience and sin. In strength and grace given, it enables them to have the testimony that their ways please God, to finish their course, to suffer for truth's sake, to be persecuted and tortured without accepting deliverance by sacrificing truth, and to go into dens and caves of the earth as those of whom the world was not worthy.
Compelled Mission to Save
The love of Christ compels those who have been converted to proclaim the gospel and share the bread of life with a famishing world, for having received eternal life they cannot forbear or keep it to themselves. Those so constrained hear the Saviour's last commission constantly sounding in their ears, and know they hold sacred truth in their hands as executors of His will and laborers together with God. Therefore they go everywhere preaching the Word and breaking the bread of life to all who are in need, even when scattered by persecution, and wherever they go the sick are healed and the poor hear the gospel.
It gives one purpose and Christlike energy to seek the salvation of those for whom He died, so that those who receive the truth in love and have His Spirit devote themselves to saving others. Those saved from sin by belief in the truth use the talents God gives them to help save others, as they themselves were reached, in continual self-denial, self-sacrifice and effort to win souls. Under its constraint religion is taught as truth as it is in Jesus, not as drudgery but as delight, with sunshine, gratitude, tenderness and Christlike compassion that leavens hearts with unselfish heavenly love. It works with sympathy and with beseeching, wooing, drawing power that reconciles souls to God, divesting workers of pride and self-love and making them doers of the word who put on Christ, make no provision for the flesh, and follow Him wherever He goes, so that well-directed effort brings many souls as precious sheaves to the Master.
Following Christ's own personal, earnest, tender method, this love will not rest in quiet indifference and ease while souls go down to death, but grows more earnest and tender as sin is greater and misery deeper. It wins instead of driving and attracts instead of repelling, discerning the need of those suffering under sin and guilt, going out in sympathy with a helping hand, bringing them to Christ in the arms of faith and love, and watching over and encouraging them so that sympathy and confidence hold them steadfast. It moves to very hard labor with self forgotten, because each soul for whom Christ died is of inexpressible worth, so ease, pleasure and even health are made secondary while trusting God to give the increase. So strong is this compulsion that it has moved the weak to speak to others despite serious weakness and risk to health.
It moves people to leave comfort and family and carry the message of salvation to the lost, even at the cost of their lives. For souls all around are perishing in sin, both nigh even in households and afar off out of the fold, and those maintaining living connection with Christ and imbued with the Master's Spirit see that lost condition and enlarge their borders and extend their labors, keeping their own lives pure, holy and ready for the great day soon to come, leaving no time for criticism or questioning. It compels those called to ministry to take up canvassing as preparation, spreading light and carrying truth from God's word directly into the home circle, using conversation to open the way to speak of Bible religion, visiting families and showing Christian tenderness and love for souls, which brings great good and trains workers for ministry.
It compels taking a stand for Christ and urging others to come to Him, for many in this dark world of sin who are nearer the kingdom than is supposed will prize God's wisdom above earthly advantage, take their stand and become faithful light-bearers. It constrains invitation to those without a decided stand, without assurance of acceptance, or still hesitating to obey, to come forward for prayer, since Christ's death for each person is the reason to urge that person to come. True Christians thus make Him known before an idolatrous world, showing the marked contrast between those who serve God and those who serve Him not, honoring and glorifying Him before irreligious, worldly men and women. The love of God is to be presented as the motive of missionary effort and the model of all plans, which means working in the way Christ worked, with His example as pattern.
It constrains workers for souls to cherish love and labor with an eye single to God's glory even when efforts are not appreciated, refusing discontent, murmuring thoughts, jealousies and evil surmisings that embitter life and mar labor. It teaches not to trust human effort to convert souls, since God alone convicts and converts while Jesus invites the burdened to come for rest and peace. It compels faithful doing of the work God has given without letting zeal diminish, without weighing consequences, and without abating for favor or frowns, bearing the full message whether men will hear or forbear until wrongs are expelled, then trusting results with God.
It moves God's commandment-keeping people to fly swiftly in presenting the last message, holding the bread of life for a famishing world and carrying gracious invitation for all who thirst to take the water of life freely, with no more messages or mercy invitations to follow after this work is done. That trust and responsibility rests on everyone who hears, not ministers only but all the people, to join the invitation by profession, character and dress as trustees for the world and executors of sacred truth. Everyone professing Christ is pledged to preach the gospel not only from the pulpit but by deeds, godly consistent life, shining light, self-denial for others' good, and love for souls greater than love for riches or earthly enjoyment. It constrains those in the publishing work and the remnant people to cooperate with Him in restoring what has been laid waste, upholding God's law and calling to obedience, so that the Sabbath draws attention to God as Creator and they rebuild as repairers of the breach and restorers of paths to dwell in.
It must constrain every gospel messenger so that self with its peculiar characteristics is submerged and never exalted, and Christ alone is revealed as altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand. Constrained by that deep, earnest, unquenchable love, workers see the purest, deepest love of God for the fallen race in their message, clothe themselves with the mind of Christ, and spread the unsearchable riches of Christ instead of difficult theories and controversy, calling all to come to provisions made accessible to all. Ministers are to preach gospel as well as law with love, pity, self-sacrificing compassion, touching appeals, urgent entreaties and cheering promises, for that constraining power reaches hearts and brings Bible truth home. Soul-service is Christ's work, not a sacrifice done for people, and is to be carried out with humility, sympathy and selflessness showing Jesus has shaped the heart, urging others to lift up Jesus and take part wholeheartedly. When an ambassador indulges self and lets defects of deportment stand out, the constraining power is hindered and becomes a stumbling-block by which hearers stumble into perdition or copy his defects, yet some hearts may remain proof against it and perish even when co-workers do all they can, and then they are blameless.
It must be the motive of all effort to mould and fashion children and youth, impelling, constraining and captivating, for when Christ is presented in His matchless love His stronger charms eclipse the attractions of the world. Youth are not won by theory alone however logical, but by seeing His loving character and glory and beholding the riches of the eternal world until encouraged, animated and won. From earliest years parents and teachers are to impress God as heavenly Father whose love was expressed in the gift of His only Son, and the Saviour's love in coming to die that we might live, presented in love and tenderness to leave a lasting impression mirrored in the mind. It constrains to unselfish, holy principles and choosing God's will — seeking usefulness with true love for souls, helping the needy, forgetting self, talking and praying with poor souls, counting their salvation of higher importance than any other consideration, bearing the cross in self-denial as co-workers with God, angels and fellow laborers — instead of shrinking, preferring a useless ease-seeking life, indulging homesickness and discontent, hindering by complaint and drawing workers from duty. Moved by that love and love for souls for whom He died, believers make every effort to seek and save the lost, sharing truth, inviting others to see its beauty, and using their abilities to advance God's work.
Transformed Life and Unity
The constraining love drives selfishness out of the soul as leprosy is driven out of the body, and when it pervades the heart selfishness is seen as hateful. Filling the heart with grace, it gives power to triumph over human selfishness, feebleness of character and lack of self-control, so that nothing unseemly appears in word, spirit or disposition and divine love and grace are revealed through the person under heavenly supervision. Strenuously cultivated as an abiding principle, it imparts inspired energy for what seemed impossible, because the divine cooperates with the human to give strength, firmness and thoroughness to every action, so change and circumstance lose controlling power and work for others succeeds in proportion to the vital principles from Christ brought into it.
It moves to compassion and tenderness toward the erring and the backslidden from God, to pity and weep over them, to come close to brethren, to help them where they are weakest and most in need, and to persevere in doing them good, remembering all are liable to err with like passions and the same need of help. Cold, heartless, hard, proud and censorious censure is laid aside, and traits inspired by opposition to good are surrendered so that humble, contrite persons are no longer condemned but met with fruit in harmony with Christ. With faith and hope it stands as one of the great moral powers of the soul, without which even earnest labor is unaccepted and unproductive, springing from what was done for helpless sinners bound in darkness, sin and despair who could do nothing for themselves. Every soul is valued as of infinite worth measured only by the ransom price paid, which Calvary explains, and this shows itself in earnest desire and effort to win souls and to come nearer perfect holiness like a faithful shepherd nourishing and protecting the sheep.
Divested of selfishness, the one constrained goes forth to help the helpless, encourage the desponding, point sinners to God's ideal for His children and lead them to Christ who alone enables them to reach it. The love is shown in words and actions, restraining anger and unchristlike conduct, valuing men as Christ valued them and working as Christ worked. Found in perfect expression in His life, it loved men in sin and degradation and reached to the depths of woe to uplift the erring with patience that never wearied and zeal that never lessened, like waves of mercy returning in stronger tide when beaten back by proud, impenitent, unthankful hearts. Gazing on the cross and estimating souls by the cost of redemption, those imbued with His Spirit become partakers with Him in self-denial and sufferings with intense earnestness to save the perishing who know not God, and they do not fail nor become discouraged, for they see open doors through which mercy and grace ever flow, every barrier broken down, and men, women and youth responding to share the burden.
It constrains to blend in harmonious action at the cross, preserving love for God that drew away from the world and drawing together away from separate confederacies and distant, detached parties into one grand harmonious whole, laboring according to varied capabilities in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Faith working by love purifies the soul as the holy, uplifting, sanctifying agency that softens and subdues jarring human nature, so that living the principles that separated from the world binds to one another by sacred cords of Christian love. Working through the believer it gives constraining power over fellow members of the church, pledging every Christian to guard brethren's interests, ward off every dividing influence, care not only for self but carry a burden for related souls, and by words and deportment lead them to follow Christ's example in self-denial, self-sacrifice and love, so building up His kingdom.
It constrains those who deal with the people for whom life was given, and teachers especially, to submit to Christ's discipline, put away traits opposed to God's will and let contrary qualities and renewing power take their place. Words and conduct are not to strengthen perversity in youth, but to deal with them in His spirit. Shaped by that unselfish, faithful love, teachers care tenderly for students' health and happiness.
Seen and felt as an abiding motive, it exerts wondrous power to change character and ability, making the timid bold, the slothful diligent, the ignorant wise, the stammering tongue eloquent, rousing dormant intellect to new life and vigor, and making the desponding hopeful and the gloomy joyous. Its possessor accepts responsibilities for Christ's sake and bears them in His strength, undismayed by tribulation and unturned from duty by reproach, and a soul without this love does not belong to Him. Stronger, deeper and more compelling than a mother's love for her child, it moves to live by faith and hope, and the new heart filled with Christ experiences joy and peace with faith, hope and courage in daily life, giving thanks in speech instead of dwelling on discouragement and trials.
It moves to costly, self-sacrificing service by those who truly appreciate the heavenly gift, who are one with Christ by faith, living in Him and He in them, with hearts drawn out and love supreme, counting nothing too costly to give and no denial too severe to endure, filled with peace and heavenly joy that enters into the Lord's joy. It moves to faithful, cheerful sacrifice not merely for pay but for Christ, His cause and suffering followers, with a spirit of sacrifice. It moves a minister's wife not to hinder her husband's saving work but to join his labor, help those in need and put their salvation before her own comfort. Abiding in the heart, it constrains to do one's best for Christ's sake because He gave His life, giving inspiration from righteous, fixed religious principles and convictions of what God expects, making one realize membership in God's great firm with accountability for the talent of time, and doing individual work manfully even when unable to unite efforts with others.
It moves those professing His name to give for the advance of the gospel and to help the poor and needy, for what is done for Christ and perishing souls shows the measure of love, while profession alone does not. In the heart it constrains to contribute liberally as God has blessed, so that spiritual revival bringing that love is of first importance for securing means for the cause. It constrains those who have means to give what they can to free a needed house of worship from debt, acting as the Lord's helping hand and bringing givers into harmony with the beneficent purposes of the gospel. It moves old and young to self-denying giving for neglected mission work through self-denial boxes in homes and gifts brought to the Master, with blessing following, the means used to help the greatly neglected colored people and colored children by starting schools where they are taught healthful living and told of the love of Jesus with blessings abundantly provided to white children.
It constrains, when filling the heart, to speak sincerely of what has been received from God and to lead others to Christ, with His life revealed in words, tender spirit and uplifting influence. It compels plain, bold, decided testimony in words given by higher power under the resting power of the Spirit, with no word withheld and no sentence recalled, delivering instruction and words given in the night season even when the solemn call to repentance is unheeded, falsely reported, and followed by sadness and dejection, for holding peace and keeping silent is impossible. Love for souls joins with love for Christ in this constraint, and when evil comes from the word spoken it is because those given the message have no place in their hearts for the Word.
It constrains His little flock and children bought with a price to form beautiful character and become useful by great kindness and helpfulness to one another and thoughtfulness in words and actions. Individual temptations to indulge and strengthen weak, defective traits are to be resisted, and the enemy is not to be allowed to sow envy, fretting, complaining, evil thinking and jealousy that spring up and gain mastery as tares, thistles and obnoxious plants, lest harmful sowing grieve one another and grieve Christ, but the present opportunity of association is to be used to learn what is needed. Children are to surrender all in light of that love, appreciate abilities God has given, do right because it is right, control self, be kind, loving and gentle, forget self in helping others, and render willing obedience, resisting selfish traits and choosing kindness and helpfulness.
It moves to faithful, wholehearted service with diligence in God's work and Word, unity in judgment, and readiness to recognize and name error. Depending on God rather than claiming credit, those constrained openly honor Him, remove what grieves His Spirit, and develop given abilities, with use according to Scripture increasing ability. It is to be cultivated in the heart together with grace, mercy and peace as the controlling influence, while making tirades against those who disagree reveals lack of the Holy Spirit's influence.
The undying love possessing heart and affections compels everyone who teaches truth and educates both minister and people, so that a church of living character can be built, for without that love in the soul no one can build it up. The soul aglow with love to God and love for souls never comes to a standstill in resources, because at the very point of exhaustion power lying in God is invariably renewed to carry through at any cost. Not eloquence or oratory but this love revealed in countenance, words and actions melts its way to the sinner's heart and convicts the unbelieving. It gives tireless persistency and perseverance that no obstacle can daunt or overcome, so that power of example does more to bring souls to Christ than any preaching not backed by example, and having this love is the privilege and need of the builder using the material with which the Word furnishes him.
The word constraineth means that the love of Christ takes hold of those who belong to Him, compelling and controlling them to joyful obedience and service from the heart. That love is the love shown in His infinite condescension and death on the cross for all, and beholding it renews flagging zeal and subdues the heart to labor for others. His dying for all proves that all were dead and helpless in sin, and those made alive by His death and resurrection are to live no longer for themselves but for Him. He does not drive by force, threats, or fear of punishment, but wins and draws by love alone. Received in the heart, that love becomes the ruling motive of life, expelling selfishness, consecrating all to God, and impelling untiring mission to seek and save those for whom He died.
Meaning of Constraining Love
To constrain means to move and compel, to draw and impel, to captivate and control those who belong to Christ. That constraining power submits the will and way to God and moves to joyful doing of what He commands. It is not bondage, for in conversion the precepts are written on the heart and the principles engraved on mind and soul, so obedience comes from within. The truth abiding in the heart in this way animates and encourages the willing soul, while the love itself remains an abiding power. As the motive of all effort to mold character, especially of children and youth, it impels and captivates, and when Christ is presented in His matchless love His stronger charms eclipse the attractions of the world. Youth are not won by theory alone, however logical, but by seeing His loving character and glory and beholding the riches of the eternal world until they are encouraged, animated, and won.
The love that so constrains is the love revealed in His sacrifice, in His infinite condescension and death on the cross. It is the actuating principle and motive power of conduct and duty, producing self-denial and unmeasured labor for humanity. When ardor in duty flags, looking at the cross and the infinite, amazing love manifested there renews the mind and presses forward anew in self-denial. Labor for others relies on that same manifestation to subdue and constrain hearts, leading those it constrains to enter the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice and to sanctify themselves for the saving of souls. The revelation of divine love in the cross also awakens a sense of neglected obligation to be light-bearers and inspires a missionary spirit. It belongs to the one great central truth of Christ and Him crucified, in whose light alone the exalted character of the law is discerned and through whose work the soul palsied by sin alone receives life, enlightening the mind, sanctifying the soul, banishing unbelief and inspiring faith.
This drawing love is the only compulsion Christ uses; He does not drive men but draws them, wins instead of driving and attracts instead of repelling. Where that love is missing there is no power of Christ present, and men resort to accusation, force, and compulsion to make others comply with their ideas of right. That lack is the secret of all religious laws and all persecution from the days of Abel to the present, including what was done by the Jews in the days of Christ and what the church does whenever she seeks the support of secular power to enforce her dogmas and execute her decrees. Fear of eternal punishment is not needed to bring a rebel to repentance, for this love can draw and subdue even the hardest heart. In personal work it will not rest in quiet indifference and ease while souls go down to death, but grows more earnest and tender as sin is greater and misery deeper, discerning need, going out in sympathy with a helping hand, bringing sufferers to Christ in the arms of faith and love, and watching over and encouraging them so that sympathy and confidence hold them steadfast.
The love must be personally experienced and known in the heart in order to constrain to Christian work. Only those who have experienced it can know Christ and lead others to the fountain of life, and success and fitness as a worker are measured in heaven by ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked. When present it compels believers to reveal Christ in conversation, in a tender, pitiful spirit, and in uplifting the lives of associates. It is known through being strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, being rooted and grounded in love, and knowing the love which passes knowledge until filled with all the fullness of God. This power works as a warming of the heart that cannot be explained, makes a person a partaker with Christ in His sufferings, and shows itself in fervent devotion to His cause. It alone enables the soul to discern unpopular truth, and a perplexed soul must be made acquainted with that love rather than have doctrine alone dwelt upon, through personal effort with heart coming close to heart in warm, genial persuasion and entreaty, in practical conversation as by the fireside, to enlighten how to believe and how to receive the promises.
The verse reasons by judgment that because one died for all, therefore all were dead. That death was for those who live, and those who live through His death and resurrection are directed to stop living for themselves and instead live for Him who died and rose again. This judgment itself is what moves and compels to proclaim the gospel.
Christ Died for All
Christ died for every person, ransoming each one by giving His own life on the cross for salvation, so that no one is to live an aimless, selfish life of self-serving but is to live unto Him and devote every physical, moral and mental power in active, unreserved cooperation with Him as a laborer together with God in helping others. This includes every member of every family, for His death must not be in vain for anyone, and each person is to be ready to meet Him in peace. It includes the colored people in the Southern field, purchased with the blood of God's only begotten Son, for whom appeal has been made ever since release from slavery, requiring more to be done to sustain the work there and to give proper pay and support to suffering ministers lacking the comforts of life, with judgment upon neglect of those who have done little.
His death for all proves that all were dead, for He did everything for people helpless in sin, bound in chains of darkness, sin and despair and able to do nothing for themselves. The infinite worth of the soul is measured only by the price paid to ransom it, which Calvary reveals and explains.
By giving His life He bought people at infinite cost, so they are not their own but belong to God in body, soul and spirit and are bound to Him in a sacred relationship to glorify Him and bear fruit for Him in more than confession. Those bought with a price must not act out their own will but the will of God, submitting to Him that the subduing Spirit may shape heart, life and character. Constrained by that love they are to use their entrusted powers as faithful stewards of His grace, present themselves a living sacrifice as reasonable service, and take personal responsibility and activity in seeking the salvation of others by making known the truth and diffusing the light given them, as every knower of truth is accountable to do. Those redeemed by His blood must not be made to suffer through religious bigotry, for His love moves to willing service and not to service forced by threats or pressure.
His death calls for giving life rather than condemnation to sinners, speaking and acting in ways that reflect His character. His love motivates pleading for the sinner's rescue and hope rather than surrender to Satan, for He bought them with His precious blood, their lives belong to Him, and He draws near to heal and deliver the oppressed. The assurance of God's love, mercy and compassion reaches the endangered soul and draws the sinner to repentance and home to the Father.
Because He died for all, everyone who believes may be cleansed from sin and saved from death. Contemplating His mercy and self-sacrificing love breaks down barriers between people and teaches sympathy, love and sacrifice, moving believers to live for others rather than themselves. In grateful response they give themselves wholly to Him, not asking how little they can give but aiming at full conformity to His will with zeal in proportion to the value of eternal life, as a grateful offering of a sinful soul for Him to purify.
Living for Christ Alone
Because one died for all, all were dead, and His death and resurrection mean that those who live through Him are no longer to live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again. Because He died for every person, ransoming each one by giving His life on the cross for salvation, no one is to live an aimless, selfish life of self-serving, but is to live unto Jesus Christ. Every soul is therefore bound to minister, to use every physical, moral and mental power through sanctification of the Spirit, to devote himself actively and unreservedly to God's service, and to cooperate with Christ as a laborer together with God in helping others, even though not all are called to enter the ministry. That compelling power moves believers to draw others into the path of the redeemed and to live for the glory of the One who gave His life for them. This result comes through personal experience in which the truth as it is in Jesus is treasured in the heart and incorporated into the being, settled and grounded so that no temptation or argument can leave Christ and His wisdom out of the life, giving a firm, solid experience and a masterly influence over all connected with such a life.
The love works through the grace of Christ to overcome hindrances and barriers and leads His followers to give themselves to God in unreserved consecration. Those who receive it give Him their whole affections and surrender their lives to Him because He gave His life for them, and that love leads to unselfish service as a continuing daily practice. His willing death should move His people to gratitude, love, self-denial, and willing consecration of all they have and are to His work, so that no duty is refused under its influence. This constraining and compelling influence moves upon minds with the force of grace, casts aside all hindrances, and exerts power upon souls so that God can work successfully through them, including young and humble workers.
This obedience is not bondage, for those who belong to Him are moved to submit will and way to God and joyfully do His bidding. In conversion God writes His precepts on the heart and engraves His principles on mind and soul. When Christ dwells in the heart, love and joy in fellowship with Him become the source of action, attention to self gives way to wholehearted surrender and desire for full conformity to His will, while obedience done merely to earn heaven without deep love is empty formality.
The love is to be the ruling principle in the soul, exercising constraining power upon the life, bringing it under God's control as the controlling influence on everyday life and the actuating motive with an eye single to God's glory. Those so constrained honor Him by cultivating every grace of character, growing in excellence, devotion, purity and holiness, keeping living connection with God and ambition for the Master's glory, working for transformation of associates and winning those who have not yet confessed Christ through silent, prayerful influence in cooperation with Christ. Where that love does not rule it cannot constrain the life, so God's power has little control even though truth is professed, many favors are received without gratitude, and principles of truth are not incorporated into the life. Where the constraining power is missing, people may profess to obey law and gospel and present claims of truth clearly while remaining carnal, loving and practicing sin in secret, handling truth deceitfully, and failing to believe with the heart unto righteousness and to love God with all the heart, proving truth was never stamped upon the heart and conversion was only superficial. Where it rules it sanctifies the heart and restrains base passions, fortifies youth against the enemy's temptations, imparts more than finite energy and qualifies human beings for divine achievement, with works showing strength of motive. It makes the salvation of men for whom Christ paid an infinite price the grand aim, to which home, family and social enjoyment are secondary, and makes home attractive by kind words, deeds and steadfast right.
When truly received it impels to untiring zeal for the honor of His name, revealed in life and speech. It impels people to honor Christ, magnify the word of truth, and speak in ways that glorify God, to be revealed in ministers, families, students and teachers in elevating and refined speech. It is to govern what is said and done, moving to sacrifice and action for the good of others. So Mary's desire to serve Jesus came from appreciation of Him as the world's Redeemer and Son of God, and her costly gift expressed love nourished by heaven whose value lay in the affection and faith it expressed, not in the ointment itself, as evidence of acts of loving service.
It is the language of those who have surrendered all to God, holding them with complete power because His principles are perfect, filling them with desire for true piety. It moves them to trade upon sacred entrusted talents in God's service to convince and convert others so they in turn will impart to others, instead of concealing talents hidden in the earth or using them in the enemy's service. As they feel deep need of His grace they are ready to devote all abilities to God's work, even if multiplied a thousandfold, for the Holy Spirit puts entrusted powers into God's service and those hungering for Christ are filled with His fullness. Those constrained are diligent in God's work and Word, united in judgment, ready to recognize and name error, dependent on God rather than claiming credit, openly honoring Him, removing what grieves His Spirit, and developing given abilities, since using talents according to Scripture increases ability.
Paul's Constraining Motive
The love of Christ was Paul's motive, driving power and actuating principle of conduct. After his conversion devoted him wholly to Christ, it inspired a life of self-sacrifice and loving ministry and service to all people. It sustained him as he struggled against selfishness and evil and served Christ despite the world's hostility and his enemies' opposition.
When his ardor and zeal in duty flagged, one glance at the cross and its amazing infinite love, revealed in sacrifice and wonderful condescension in giving His life, caused him to renew resolve and press forward anew in self-denial and perseverance. Fixing attention on that unparalleled sacrifice moved his conduct and service. That infinite love has a subduing and compelling, constraining power that inspires and sustains labor for brethren and for others, leading those it constrains to enter the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice and to sanctify themselves for the saving of souls.
That undying, omnipotent motive upheld him through persecution, discouragement, opposition, falsehood, prejudice and false charges. It kept the fear of God before him and kept his conscience clear of dishonesty and unfaithfulness. Through grace he labored in ministry with simplicity and pureness in the Spirit rather than using natural eloquence to gain human praise, honor or reputation for wisdom, with the single aim of the good of souls, watching for souls as one answerable to God, rescuing them from darkness, error and superstition, and strengthening and building up the churches in the most holy faith, preaching with sincerity and simplicity in disinterested love to all. It upheld in conflict with self and the power of Satan, in struggle with spiritual wickedness in high places, and in lifelong labor while pressing forward against the unfriendliness of the world and the burden of personal infirmity, joined to clinging to the cross as the only guarantee of success. It constrains true followers and sustains them in persecution to take the Bible as it reads, discard fables, and stand firm amid test and trial, sword and flame, with faith tried and purified. That love moves them to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, to count the cost, to count not life dear, and to hold truth richer and dearer than life in disobedience and sin. In strength and grace given, it enables them to have the testimony that their ways please God, to finish their course, to suffer for truth's sake, to be persecuted and tortured without accepting deliverance by sacrificing truth, and to go into dens and caves of the earth as those of whom the world was not worthy.
Compelled Mission to Save
The love of Christ compels those who have been converted to proclaim the gospel and share the bread of life with a famishing world, for having received eternal life they cannot forbear or keep it to themselves. Those so constrained hear the Saviour's last commission constantly sounding in their ears, and know they hold sacred truth in their hands as executors of His will and laborers together with God. Therefore they go everywhere preaching the Word and breaking the bread of life to all who are in need, even when scattered by persecution, and wherever they go the sick are healed and the poor hear the gospel.
It gives one purpose and Christlike energy to seek the salvation of those for whom He died, so that those who receive the truth in love and have His Spirit devote themselves to saving others. Those saved from sin by belief in the truth use the talents God gives them to help save others, as they themselves were reached, in continual self-denial, self-sacrifice and effort to win souls. Under its constraint religion is taught as truth as it is in Jesus, not as drudgery but as delight, with sunshine, gratitude, tenderness and Christlike compassion that leavens hearts with unselfish heavenly love. It works with sympathy and with beseeching, wooing, drawing power that reconciles souls to God, divesting workers of pride and self-love and making them doers of the word who put on Christ, make no provision for the flesh, and follow Him wherever He goes, so that well-directed effort brings many souls as precious sheaves to the Master.
Following Christ's own personal, earnest, tender method, this love will not rest in quiet indifference and ease while souls go down to death, but grows more earnest and tender as sin is greater and misery deeper. It wins instead of driving and attracts instead of repelling, discerning the need of those suffering under sin and guilt, going out in sympathy with a helping hand, bringing them to Christ in the arms of faith and love, and watching over and encouraging them so that sympathy and confidence hold them steadfast. It moves to very hard labor with self forgotten, because each soul for whom Christ died is of inexpressible worth, so ease, pleasure and even health are made secondary while trusting God to give the increase. So strong is this compulsion that it has moved the weak to speak to others despite serious weakness and risk to health.
It moves people to leave comfort and family and carry the message of salvation to the lost, even at the cost of their lives. For souls all around are perishing in sin, both nigh even in households and afar off out of the fold, and those maintaining living connection with Christ and imbued with the Master's Spirit see that lost condition and enlarge their borders and extend their labors, keeping their own lives pure, holy and ready for the great day soon to come, leaving no time for criticism or questioning. It compels those called to ministry to take up canvassing as preparation, spreading light and carrying truth from God's word directly into the home circle, using conversation to open the way to speak of Bible religion, visiting families and showing Christian tenderness and love for souls, which brings great good and trains workers for ministry.
It compels taking a stand for Christ and urging others to come to Him, for many in this dark world of sin who are nearer the kingdom than is supposed will prize God's wisdom above earthly advantage, take their stand and become faithful light-bearers. It constrains invitation to those without a decided stand, without assurance of acceptance, or still hesitating to obey, to come forward for prayer, since Christ's death for each person is the reason to urge that person to come. True Christians thus make Him known before an idolatrous world, showing the marked contrast between those who serve God and those who serve Him not, honoring and glorifying Him before irreligious, worldly men and women. The love of God is to be presented as the motive of missionary effort and the model of all plans, which means working in the way Christ worked, with His example as pattern.
It constrains workers for souls to cherish love and labor with an eye single to God's glory even when efforts are not appreciated, refusing discontent, murmuring thoughts, jealousies and evil surmisings that embitter life and mar labor. It teaches not to trust human effort to convert souls, since God alone convicts and converts while Jesus invites the burdened to come for rest and peace. It compels faithful doing of the work God has given without letting zeal diminish, without weighing consequences, and without abating for favor or frowns, bearing the full message whether men will hear or forbear until wrongs are expelled, then trusting results with God.
It moves God's commandment-keeping people to fly swiftly in presenting the last message, holding the bread of life for a famishing world and carrying gracious invitation for all who thirst to take the water of life freely, with no more messages or mercy invitations to follow after this work is done. That trust and responsibility rests on everyone who hears, not ministers only but all the people, to join the invitation by profession, character and dress as trustees for the world and executors of sacred truth. Everyone professing Christ is pledged to preach the gospel not only from the pulpit but by deeds, godly consistent life, shining light, self-denial for others' good, and love for souls greater than love for riches or earthly enjoyment. It constrains those in the publishing work and the remnant people to cooperate with Him in restoring what has been laid waste, upholding God's law and calling to obedience, so that the Sabbath draws attention to God as Creator and they rebuild as repairers of the breach and restorers of paths to dwell in.
It must constrain every gospel messenger so that self with its peculiar characteristics is submerged and never exalted, and Christ alone is revealed as altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand. Constrained by that deep, earnest, unquenchable love, workers see the purest, deepest love of God for the fallen race in their message, clothe themselves with the mind of Christ, and spread the unsearchable riches of Christ instead of difficult theories and controversy, calling all to come to provisions made accessible to all. Ministers are to preach gospel as well as law with love, pity, self-sacrificing compassion, touching appeals, urgent entreaties and cheering promises, for that constraining power reaches hearts and brings Bible truth home. Soul-service is Christ's work, not a sacrifice done for people, and is to be carried out with humility, sympathy and selflessness showing Jesus has shaped the heart, urging others to lift up Jesus and take part wholeheartedly. When an ambassador indulges self and lets defects of deportment stand out, the constraining power is hindered and becomes a stumbling-block by which hearers stumble into perdition or copy his defects, yet some hearts may remain proof against it and perish even when co-workers do all they can, and then they are blameless.
It must be the motive of all effort to mould and fashion children and youth, impelling, constraining and captivating, for when Christ is presented in His matchless love His stronger charms eclipse the attractions of the world. Youth are not won by theory alone however logical, but by seeing His loving character and glory and beholding the riches of the eternal world until encouraged, animated and won. From earliest years parents and teachers are to impress God as heavenly Father whose love was expressed in the gift of His only Son, and the Saviour's love in coming to die that we might live, presented in love and tenderness to leave a lasting impression mirrored in the mind. It constrains to unselfish, holy principles and choosing God's will — seeking usefulness with true love for souls, helping the needy, forgetting self, talking and praying with poor souls, counting their salvation of higher importance than any other consideration, bearing the cross in self-denial as co-workers with God, angels and fellow laborers — instead of shrinking, preferring a useless ease-seeking life, indulging homesickness and discontent, hindering by complaint and drawing workers from duty. Moved by that love and love for souls for whom He died, believers make every effort to seek and save the lost, sharing truth, inviting others to see its beauty, and using their abilities to advance God's work.
Transformed Life and Unity
The constraining love drives selfishness out of the soul as leprosy is driven out of the body, and when it pervades the heart selfishness is seen as hateful. Filling the heart with grace, it gives power to triumph over human selfishness, feebleness of character and lack of self-control, so that nothing unseemly appears in word, spirit or disposition and divine love and grace are revealed through the person under heavenly supervision. Strenuously cultivated as an abiding principle, it imparts inspired energy for what seemed impossible, because the divine cooperates with the human to give strength, firmness and thoroughness to every action, so change and circumstance lose controlling power and work for others succeeds in proportion to the vital principles from Christ brought into it.
It moves to compassion and tenderness toward the erring and the backslidden from God, to pity and weep over them, to come close to brethren, to help them where they are weakest and most in need, and to persevere in doing them good, remembering all are liable to err with like passions and the same need of help. Cold, heartless, hard, proud and censorious censure is laid aside, and traits inspired by opposition to good are surrendered so that humble, contrite persons are no longer condemned but met with fruit in harmony with Christ. With faith and hope it stands as one of the great moral powers of the soul, without which even earnest labor is unaccepted and unproductive, springing from what was done for helpless sinners bound in darkness, sin and despair who could do nothing for themselves. Every soul is valued as of infinite worth measured only by the ransom price paid, which Calvary explains, and this shows itself in earnest desire and effort to win souls and to come nearer perfect holiness like a faithful shepherd nourishing and protecting the sheep.
Divested of selfishness, the one constrained goes forth to help the helpless, encourage the desponding, point sinners to God's ideal for His children and lead them to Christ who alone enables them to reach it. The love is shown in words and actions, restraining anger and unchristlike conduct, valuing men as Christ valued them and working as Christ worked. Found in perfect expression in His life, it loved men in sin and degradation and reached to the depths of woe to uplift the erring with patience that never wearied and zeal that never lessened, like waves of mercy returning in stronger tide when beaten back by proud, impenitent, unthankful hearts. Gazing on the cross and estimating souls by the cost of redemption, those imbued with His Spirit become partakers with Him in self-denial and sufferings with intense earnestness to save the perishing who know not God, and they do not fail nor become discouraged, for they see open doors through which mercy and grace ever flow, every barrier broken down, and men, women and youth responding to share the burden.
It constrains to blend in harmonious action at the cross, preserving love for God that drew away from the world and drawing together away from separate confederacies and distant, detached parties into one grand harmonious whole, laboring according to varied capabilities in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Faith working by love purifies the soul as the holy, uplifting, sanctifying agency that softens and subdues jarring human nature, so that living the principles that separated from the world binds to one another by sacred cords of Christian love. Working through the believer it gives constraining power over fellow members of the church, pledging every Christian to guard brethren's interests, ward off every dividing influence, care not only for self but carry a burden for related souls, and by words and deportment lead them to follow Christ's example in self-denial, self-sacrifice and love, so building up His kingdom.
It constrains those who deal with the people for whom life was given, and teachers especially, to submit to Christ's discipline, put away traits opposed to God's will and let contrary qualities and renewing power take their place. Words and conduct are not to strengthen perversity in youth, but to deal with them in His spirit. Shaped by that unselfish, faithful love, teachers care tenderly for students' health and happiness.
Seen and felt as an abiding motive, it exerts wondrous power to change character and ability, making the timid bold, the slothful diligent, the ignorant wise, the stammering tongue eloquent, rousing dormant intellect to new life and vigor, and making the desponding hopeful and the gloomy joyous. Its possessor accepts responsibilities for Christ's sake and bears them in His strength, undismayed by tribulation and unturned from duty by reproach, and a soul without this love does not belong to Him. Stronger, deeper and more compelling than a mother's love for her child, it moves to live by faith and hope, and the new heart filled with Christ experiences joy and peace with faith, hope and courage in daily life, giving thanks in speech instead of dwelling on discouragement and trials.
It moves to costly, self-sacrificing service by those who truly appreciate the heavenly gift, who are one with Christ by faith, living in Him and He in them, with hearts drawn out and love supreme, counting nothing too costly to give and no denial too severe to endure, filled with peace and heavenly joy that enters into the Lord's joy. It moves to faithful, cheerful sacrifice not merely for pay but for Christ, His cause and suffering followers, with a spirit of sacrifice. It moves a minister's wife not to hinder her husband's saving work but to join his labor, help those in need and put their salvation before her own comfort. Abiding in the heart, it constrains to do one's best for Christ's sake because He gave His life, giving inspiration from righteous, fixed religious principles and convictions of what God expects, making one realize membership in God's great firm with accountability for the talent of time, and doing individual work manfully even when unable to unite efforts with others.
It moves those professing His name to give for the advance of the gospel and to help the poor and needy, for what is done for Christ and perishing souls shows the measure of love, while profession alone does not. In the heart it constrains to contribute liberally as God has blessed, so that spiritual revival bringing that love is of first importance for securing means for the cause. It constrains those who have means to give what they can to free a needed house of worship from debt, acting as the Lord's helping hand and bringing givers into harmony with the beneficent purposes of the gospel. It moves old and young to self-denying giving for neglected mission work through self-denial boxes in homes and gifts brought to the Master, with blessing following, the means used to help the greatly neglected colored people and colored children by starting schools where they are taught healthful living and told of the love of Jesus with blessings abundantly provided to white children.
It constrains, when filling the heart, to speak sincerely of what has been received from God and to lead others to Christ, with His life revealed in words, tender spirit and uplifting influence. It compels plain, bold, decided testimony in words given by higher power under the resting power of the Spirit, with no word withheld and no sentence recalled, delivering instruction and words given in the night season even when the solemn call to repentance is unheeded, falsely reported, and followed by sadness and dejection, for holding peace and keeping silent is impossible. Love for souls joins with love for Christ in this constraint, and when evil comes from the word spoken it is because those given the message have no place in their hearts for the Word.
It constrains His little flock and children bought with a price to form beautiful character and become useful by great kindness and helpfulness to one another and thoughtfulness in words and actions. Individual temptations to indulge and strengthen weak, defective traits are to be resisted, and the enemy is not to be allowed to sow envy, fretting, complaining, evil thinking and jealousy that spring up and gain mastery as tares, thistles and obnoxious plants, lest harmful sowing grieve one another and grieve Christ, but the present opportunity of association is to be used to learn what is needed. Children are to surrender all in light of that love, appreciate abilities God has given, do right because it is right, control self, be kind, loving and gentle, forget self in helping others, and render willing obedience, resisting selfish traits and choosing kindness and helpfulness.
It moves to faithful, wholehearted service with diligence in God's work and Word, unity in judgment, and readiness to recognize and name error. Depending on God rather than claiming credit, those constrained openly honor Him, remove what grieves His Spirit, and develop given abilities, with use according to Scripture increasing ability. It is to be cultivated in the heart together with grace, mercy and peace as the controlling influence, while making tirades against those who disagree reveals lack of the Holy Spirit's influence.
The undying love possessing heart and affections compels everyone who teaches truth and educates both minister and people, so that a church of living character can be built, for without that love in the soul no one can build it up. The soul aglow with love to God and love for souls never comes to a standstill in resources, because at the very point of exhaustion power lying in God is invariably renewed to carry through at any cost. Not eloquence or oratory but this love revealed in countenance, words and actions melts its way to the sinner's heart and convicts the unbelieving. It gives tireless persistency and perseverance that no obstacle can daunt or overcome, so that power of example does more to bring souls to Christ than any preaching not backed by example, and having this love is the privilege and need of the builder using the material with which the Word furnishes him.