SPURS OF CHRIST
Jesus and His apostles had to have a puncture-proof heart; perhaps, more out of necessity than personal desire. They had to have hearts that could withstand the abusive nature of corrupted people. The apostle Paul was no exception to this deleterious effect by those who desired to do their “own thing”. In fact, many Christians said that Paul was not even an authentic apostle of Jesus and just, flat-out, refused to listen to him. Fortunately, the love of Christ was paramount with Paul. He relied on Christ’s example of love to guide him (cf. Philippians 2:4-11). It is the love of Christ that spurred Paul to do right even when others did damage. “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
A cowboy uses spurs to motivate his horse. Spurs help to give a horse direction and focus. In other words, spurs help control the horse in the way the rider wants to go. Similarly, Jesus motivates Christians in the direction He wants them to go. It is the love of Christ that spurs believers in their decisions and lifestyle. There are three spurs of love that God teaches through the apostle Paul.
The first spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the reality of judgment. Some, though, believe that there is no judgment – this is unfortunate. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; cf. Matthew 16:26-27; Romans 2:16; 14:10-12; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:1-2; Jude 6). Being in Christ allows a person to bypass the negative aspects of judgment – condemnation. If, however, you are outside of Christ then judgment (or penalty) will be certain. Jesus and the apostles knew the reality/fear of judgment. Their love forced them to persuade people toward the love of Christ. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
The second spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the need to love ones enemies. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). The love of Christ guides followers of Christ in the same way it did the apostle Paul – by designed direction. Again, the ultimate example that guides all followers of God is – Christ (Mark 8:31; Luke 17:25; 1 Peter 2:4).
The third spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the duty, yes duty, to listen to the apostle’s Word. The apostles are the avenue by which Christians know how to walk. And it is our responsibility to listen and follow their teachings that come from God. “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6, cf. 1 John 4:1-6). We need to listen to their word. "I [Jesus] do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me [Jesus] through their [apostles] word” (John 17:20). We need to listen to Christ. “Therefore, we [apostles] are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you [followers of Christ] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10-21). Let the love of Christ spur on ALL your behavior guiding you in His desired path.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
A cowboy uses spurs to motivate his horse. Spurs help to give a horse direction and focus. In other words, spurs help control the horse in the way the rider wants to go. Similarly, Jesus motivates Christians in the direction He wants them to go. It is the love of Christ that spurs believers in their decisions and lifestyle. There are three spurs of love that God teaches through the apostle Paul.
The first spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the reality of judgment. Some, though, believe that there is no judgment – this is unfortunate. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; cf. Matthew 16:26-27; Romans 2:16; 14:10-12; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:1-2; Jude 6). Being in Christ allows a person to bypass the negative aspects of judgment – condemnation. If, however, you are outside of Christ then judgment (or penalty) will be certain. Jesus and the apostles knew the reality/fear of judgment. Their love forced them to persuade people toward the love of Christ. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
The second spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the need to love ones enemies. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). The love of Christ guides followers of Christ in the same way it did the apostle Paul – by designed direction. Again, the ultimate example that guides all followers of God is – Christ (Mark 8:31; Luke 17:25; 1 Peter 2:4).
The third spur of love that God uses to guide Christians toward His mission is the duty, yes duty, to listen to the apostle’s Word. The apostles are the avenue by which Christians know how to walk. And it is our responsibility to listen and follow their teachings that come from God. “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6, cf. 1 John 4:1-6). We need to listen to their word. "I [Jesus] do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me [Jesus] through their [apostles] word” (John 17:20). We need to listen to Christ. “Therefore, we [apostles] are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you [followers of Christ] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10-21). Let the love of Christ spur on ALL your behavior guiding you in His desired path.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves