This past weekend, many gathered from around the Southeast US for an enriching conference, Compelled 2015. The title of the conference was drawn from the scripture, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. This idea of the love of Christ compelling us is what each lesson centered around the entire weekend, and it was fantastic!
But what exactly am I compelled to do? Paul used the word συνέχει (sunechó) to illustrate the control that Christ’s love had over him. He was hard pressed with, confined by, controlled by, impelled by the love of Christ. In his ever increasing understanding of the love of Christ, expressed on the cross while Paul was still his enemy (Romans 5:10), he was afflicted with the driving force of living for Christ instead of himself.
Daniel is a senior at Clemson University and a member of the Clemson Foothills Church.
