On my previous site I had a "Scripture Verse of the Week" that seemed to be more trouble than it was worth to try to remember to change every week, much less stay on top of in my own life. I still believe the wisdom of memorizing and meditating on scripture and recently I've decided to immerse myself into that again. I guess, as a part of wanting to spend more time with God, meditating on His Word is a good thing to do during some of that time.

This week's verse came from reading My Utmost For His Highest:
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then all were dead." -2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV)

Oswald Chambers' focus of this verse was on the idea of being in the grip of Christ's love - how that affected Paul's actions and ministry and how it's evident in the lives of those who truly walk with Christ today. I long to be so constrained by Christ that His love is the focus of everything I do. But then I studied a little more...

"...because we thus judge..."

Not only does the love of Christ affect our actions but also our knowledge and truth. Being in the grip of His love causes us to understand things that were previously unattainable. Christ spoke of how things were hidden from the Pharisees' understanding but made known to children and I think that's what Paul refers to here: being with Christ... being in the confines of His love...causes us to understand things and see a reality we previously didn't know.

There are so many people in the world today who think they have the answers. Many of us are striving to be smarter than the next guy but all our efforts can only get us to a limited point. There's a truth that can only be found in relationship with Christ. God told Moses to ask for wisdom and it would be his. It's a truth we can have, too… but it requires sitting in the presence of God and allowing Him to grant us understanding.

As I work to build my quiet time, I will continue to pray that Christ's love would constrain me and that I would learn to understand the truths He has to share.