Last Sunday, we celebrated Easter, and Pastor Ken preached from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, showing us how the hope of eternity with Christ empowers us with courage for today.

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:11-17

This Sunday, Pastor Ken will teach us that proper motivation for ministry is the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ from 2 Corinthians 5:11-17. We far too often minister to others for selfish reasons, serving them for our own gain instead of God’s glory. Thankfully, the power of the gospel sets us free from selfish pursuits and to God-glorifying ministry to others.

As you prepare your heart for this Sunday, please continue to pray for all who have been affected by the tornado and seek the Lord with how you might best serve those who are in need. Also, let this devotional from Milton Vincent lead you to the liberating power of the gospel and to further depths of the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Reflect: “Liberation from Self-Love”

Compared to greater endeavors, self-love is mundane and tiresome. Consequently, the more thoroughly I can be done with such tedium, the freer my soul will be to soar at its God-intended heights.

One of the leading causes of my natural tendency to self-love is fear. I fear that if I do not love myself there would be no one left to love me quite so well as I do. An even more significant cause of self-love is a lack of persuasion that there is someone out there who is worthy to be loved more than I. Arrogance lies underneath both of these causes: I love myself supremely because I am the most worthy person I know to be loved and also because I think I can do a better job at it than anyone else. Such arrogance makes me dangerous, yet it is deeply ingrained in my sinful flesh.

Thankfully, the gospel frees me from the shackles of self-love by addressing both of these causes. First, the gospel assures me that the love of God is infinitely superior to any love that I could ever give to myself. “Greater love has no one than this,” says Jesus while speaking of His love. And the deeper I go into the gospel, the more I experience the truth of His claim and thereby know how far His love for me surpasses even my own. His astonishing love for me renders self-absorption moot and frees me up to move on to causes and interests far greater than myself.

Second, the gospel reveals to me the breathtaking glory and loveliness of God, and in so doing, it lures my heart away from love of self and leaves me enthralled by Him instead. The more I behold God’s glory in the gospel, the more lovely He appears to me. And the more lovely He appears, the more self fades into the background like a former love interest who can no longer compete for my affections.

Preaching the gospel to myself every day reminds me of God’s astounding love for me and also of His infinite worthiness to be loved by me above all else. These reminders deliver a one-two punch to my innate self-absorption and leave me increasingly absorbed with Christ and with God’s ultimate plan to gather together all heavenly and earthly things in Him.

“Liberation from Self-Love,” in A Gospel Primer for Christians, by Milton Vincent

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1. “Praise to the Lord (Joyful, Joyful),” Arr. Shane & Shane
2. “His Mercy Is More,” Arr. Shane & Shane
3. “All I Have Is Christ,” by Sovereign Grace Music