Daily Devotion

“Our Lord's first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat.”

Oswald Chambers · My Utmost for His Highest, "Service of Passionate Devotion"

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we consider that since one died for all, 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.

Reflection

If missions are centered on "human needs," we will quickly become exhausted by the difficulties of mission work, cultural clashes, or people's feedback. Only Christ's "substitute" death and His immeasurable love are the only inexhaustible engine. Our role is not only to organize affairs, but also to act as "conduits" of Christ's love. When challenges arise, I need to reflect: Am I being sustained by natural enthusiasm, or am I being held tightly by that love that "died for me"? Only those "driven" by the Lord's love can steadfastly move forward in the wilderness where no one cheers.