John 21:16 ...Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. 2 Cor 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constrains us … that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.
[Part 2 of 2] I have heard many times that we have to do good and repay God's grace. This word is too contradictory. If there is repayment, there is no grace. And if there is grace, there is no need of repayment. Thank the Lord that in the whole New Testament we are never told to repay anything. It is true that we Christians ought to have good works. But why should we have good works? Why do we have to suffer for the Lord? Why do we have to bear the shame? Why do we serve the Lord? As the Lord has dealt with us in love, so we deal with the Lord in love; but there is no thought of a trade here. It is not that God gives me so much and I give back so much in return. Because He has loved me, I cannot help but love Him; because He loved me, He was crucified for me; and because I love Him, for Him I bear the cross willingly. What He has given me has been given freely, and what I am giving Him is also given freely. Today if we work, serve the Lord, suffer reproach, or bear the cross, it is not because we want to pay back His grace--it is because we love Him. The love with which He has loved us has taken hold of us, captured our hearts, and constrained us to serve Him.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, The Gospel of God, 1993, pp. 54-55. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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