Category: Compelled

Matthew 18:1-5 (NIV) – At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“I am just starting to learn how to love more. I believe this is my lifetime goal. I want to love God with everything within me. I want to love my neighbor as myself.” [Baker, Heidi. Compelled by Love, 17.]

This is an amazing quote from a person whose life has already impacted so many people and has had what many would consider a very successful ministry. Even in all this, Heidi Baker remains humble and steadfast, and recognizes that she has one lifelong goal – simply for God to expand her heart to love more. She has devoted herself to be lifelong learner to love God and her neighbor today, more than she did yesterday.

May we come to the Lord with childlike faith and humility recognizing that we are just beginning to learn to love. Let us pray that God will expand our hearts to love more and worship to the song “Yours (Glory & Praise)” (tap here) by Elevation Worship.

– DW

Ephesians 3:17b-19 (NIV) – I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“I’m a prisoner of love. I have given my life for love. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.” [Baker, Heidi. Compelled by Love, 31.]

Heidi Baker radiates joy as she speaks of her relationship with Jesus, and her relationship with the children that God has called her to love. This joy is rooted in understanding and living in the incredible love of Christ. There is inexpressible joy as we make ourselves completely available to God’s purposes.

Are you out of joy today? Joy comes from being deeply loved by God, and that love bubbling out of our lives. Let’s pray like this today: “God, as you have loved me, may I give my life for love and experience unspeakable joy in doing so.” In thankfulness, let us worship to the song “Your Love Defends Me” (tap here) by Matt Maher.

– DW

John 3:30 (NIV) – He must become greater; I must become less.

“My heart cries out, ‘Oh, Lord, let me be undone!’ I choose not to stand up, grow up or get a grip. I want to fall down. I want my hands and my heart to stay loose, yielded into His heart and His love. It is about being made more like Him, not more like me. I will contend to be undone. I will ask Him to help me stay undone. Not finished, always ready, always wanting to be more like Him. His life and His love poured into my empty life, to fill up and overflow from this little jar of clay. What is a Christian? Someone who is like Christ. Maybe we are not Christians yet, but by God’s grace we are becoming Christians, becoming more like Him. Growing smaller rather than growing up. Going lower still until we become nothing and He becomes everything.” [Baker, Heidi. Learning to Love, 124-125.]

As we desire to love and minister to others, we sometimes make it about ourselves. At times, we reason that there has to be this “perfect storm” in order for us to start loving others. But God is always ready. Let’s pray that God will reshape our thoughts and our lives so that it is all about him – not about what we can or cannot do, what we like or don’t like to do. May God become greater, may we become less!

– DW

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV) – 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.

“The gospel is not just a mechanism for getting people saved. It is the announcement of a love that has changed the world, a love that therefore takes the people who find themselves loved like this and sends them off to live and work in a totally new way. The energy to get up and go on as a Christian, as one who works for the gospel comes not from a cold sense of duty, not from a fear of being punished if you don’t do your bit, but from the warm-hearted response of love to the love which has reached out, reached down, and reached you.” [Wright, N.T. Paul for Everyone 2 Corinthians, 62.]

The word “compel” connotes a strong force that thrusts us toward something we would not ordinarily do. It is also accompanied by a sense of urgency. We were called by God in love to live a life of love. We can live in this way because of Christ’s victorious work on the Cross! Let’s pray that today, Christ’s victorious love will permeate every part of our lives and compel us to love those around us!

– DW

2 Corinthians 5:13 (NIV) – If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

“Learn to live in the intimate love of God. Believe that God can take you who are well fed and well clothed and make you hungry, thirsty, desperate, and completely dependent on your Father’s love so that your eyes will see those around you who are in need of fresh bread from heaven. If you are that someone in the desert who will die without a drink of water, God can pour out His Spirit so that your heart is compelled by love.” [Baker, Heidi. Compelled by Love, 8.]

It’s not difficult to see Heidi Baker’s passionate love for the most broken and destitute people in the world. What we don’t see as easily is what compels her to love – an intimate “out of her mind” love for Jesus. It is her active intimacy with Christ that results in her love for others. Without this personal intimacy, it is not possible for her to love and it is not possible for us to love. May our love for others begin here – with an intimate love for our Lord.

As we worship to the song “Lord I Need You” (tap here) by Matt Maher, let’s confess our need for him and be drawn into His presence today. Let’s experience afresh his deep love for us.

– DW