ADDICTED TO LOVE
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2Cor 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
There are times in a disciple’s life, that only the constraining love of Christ will keep you going. When all your strength is gone, when all your faith is gone, when all your hope is gone, when darkness is permeating because all your light is gone, when all your friends are gone, when all your resources are gone, only the constraining love of Christ will keep you going!
Apostle Paul experienced such despair! Yet, somehow he kept going, he kept advancing the Gospel of Christ! Only a person who is addicted to love for Jesus can manage to keep going when everything is pressing hard against them. In this world where love is failing, we must acquire an addiction of love for our Lord Jesus. We must allow the Holy Spirit to keep ushering us into His awesome presence, where our hearts overflow with joy because of face to face and heart to heart encounters with Christ!
General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, experienced a temporary blindness and later a permanent blindness. Most churches were doing nothing to reach the “undesirables”—drunkards, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and the poor. Booth set out to reach them. Thousands were saved among those that most churches had no interest in reaching. Booth gave his life for the cause of reaching others. His son, Bramwell brought the devastating news to his father. The doctor said there is no hope that you will ever see again! Booth’s reply was, “God must know best, Bramwell. I have done what I could for God and the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and the people without my eyes.”
O great Holy Spirit of God, bring us into such strong addiction of love for Jesus, that we may be faithful to you in the best of times and in the worst of times! In Jesus name and for His sake! Amen!
Every blessing!
—Tom