December 1, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode of the One Yes At A Time podcast, hosts Susan Dies and Keidra Hobley discuss the concept of being compelled by Christ's love as described in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. They explore how the love of Christ can and should motivate believers to live for Christ rather than for themselves. The discussion extends to practical applications like forgiveness, prayer, rejoicing, holiness, and sharing the gospel. The episode emphasizes that love is an action, and that God Himself demonstrates what genuine looks like. Susan and Keidra highlight the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and share personal anecdotes revealing how the Holy Spirit guides them out of their comfort zones to act in love towards others, even when it is hard and uncomfortable. The episode concludes with a prayer and an invitation for listeners to say 'yes' to the love of Christ and live a life more fully devoted to Him.
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Susan Dies (00:38):
Welcome to the One Yes At A Time podcast.
My name is Susan Dies and I'mhere with my friend and co-host,
Keidra Hobley, and today we'retalking about saying yes to love
that compels us.
What it looks like to truly putour love for God into practice
and what it is that motivates usto do that.
So Keidra, let's start with thekey verse...
look up Second Corinthians5:14-15
Keidra Hobley (01:00):
Yes, I sure will.
It says, For Christ's lovecompels us because we are
convinced that one died for alland therefore all died, and he
died for all that those who liveshould no longer live for
themselves but for him who diedfor them and was raised again."
Susan Dies (01:20):
So based on this verse, what should be the thing
that motivates us to share thegood news of the Gospel with
others?
Keidra Hobley (01:27):
The fact that Christ died for us.
Susan Dies (01:29):
Right.
For believers, it's the love ofChrist and the lengths to which
he went to show us his love.
Mm-hmm.
And the lengths to which hecontinues to show us his love,
that should motivate us, or asthis verse says, compel us.
So what does it mean to becompelled?
What is the difference betweenbeing motivated by an inner
desire and being compelled to dosomething?
Keidra Hobley (01:49):
Yeah, I, I see one as being inward...
and one being outward.
Like, to be self-motivatedthat's something that's on the
inside of me..
Right...
that's making me wanna dosomething to benefit me, versus
being compelled.
I see that as an outwardinfluence.
Like it's not self-motivated.
Mm-hmm.
It's something that is beyondme.
So to me, compelled is outward.
Susan Dies (02:09):
That's a good definition.
Well, you know, I love wordstudies, Uhhuh.
And so in the Greek, which isthe original language of the New
Testament, the word compelled inthis verse is the word'sunecho'.
Okay.
And it means to hold together.
To hold fast like a prisoner.
Mm-hmm.
Constrained to control.
Mm-hmm.
To press on every side in orderto move something in a
particular direction.
(02:30):
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
It's an irresistible urge thatmotivates us to action.
And so the verse you just readsays, the love of Christ compels
us.
And so if we put thesedefinitions at the end of that
sentence, it would read likethis.
The love of Christ holds ustogether.
That's so good.
The love of Christ holds us fastlike a prisoner.
The love of Christ constrainsand controls us.
(02:51):
The love of Christ is so strongthat it moves us in a particular
direction.
The love of Christ creates anirresistible urge within us, and
the love of Christ motivates usto action.
Keidra Hobley (03:02):
Oh, that's so good.
I like that.
Yeah.
Susan Dies (03:04):
And this is what Paul was saying...
that the love of Christ and ourunderstanding of just how much
he loves us, is meant to be adriving force...
the driving force behind ourwillingness to stop living a
life that's focused onourselves..
Mm-hmm...
and as this verse says, toinstead live our lives for him.
And when we consider that heliterally gave his life for us,
(03:25):
it's not too much to ask that welive our lives for him.
Yes.
Right?
And so let's talk about that.
What would it look like for usto choose to live our lives for
Jesus as opposed to living forourselves?
Keidra Hobley (03:36):
I mean that's, the very definition of dying to
self.
is not putting my own selfishdesires and will above what it
is that the Father has for us todo.
So it's literally taking himinto first consideration.
Right.
That's dying to self.
Susan Dies (03:51):
Right.
Looking at God's word..
Mm-hmm...
and what he wants us to do...
and being willing to do that.
Yeah.
Living for Jesus isn't easy andhe told us it wouldn't be easy.
Right.
And that's because God's waysare not our ways...
and so often what he tells us todo isn't necessarily what we
wanna do.
Mm-hmm.
Like many times we wanna do theexact opposite.
We wanna do what the world isdoing because that's what's
(04:13):
easier.
And I think it's because ashuman beings we tend to like
that path of least resistance.
Mm-hmm.
Right?
Yeah.
To just go with the flow.
But just going with the flow israrely God's plan.
He wants us to go against thetide.
Okay.
And he wants us to be different.
And his Spirit in us canmotivate us.
Mm-hmm.
Control, constrain, move us in aparticular direction if we're
(04:37):
allowing him to guide our lives.
God wants our lives to look morelike Jesus and less like the
world, and that's not easybecause temptation is so strong.
Yeah.
You know?
And we talked about that lastweek...
that God has given us his spiritto live inside of us, to help us
do those hard things and ifwe'll let him, he'll do that.
Yeah.
He will move us in thatdirection.
(04:58):
He will give us the strength todo the hard things that God
wants us to do.
So what about you?
Can you think of an example...
you knew that God wanted you todo something...
maybe you read something in hisword, or you heard a preacher
speak on something, that youwere wrestling with something
maybe uncomfortable or hard thatyou didn't necessarily wanna do,
but out of your love for Jesus,and with the help of the Holy
Spirit, you were able to dothat?
Keidra Hobley (05:19):
Yeah.
The first thing that comes to mymind is, just say something to
somebody.
I mean, it sounds so simple, andmost people would think, oh, she
wouldn't have a problem withthat.
But I'm, I'm really reservednaturally.
And so when the Lord reallystarted, using me in the area of
words of wisdom..
Mm-hmm...
you know, speaking to otherpeople concerning things, I was
(05:40):
very hesitant.
Hmm.
You want me to say what Lord?
Mm-hmm.
Like, you want me to say that tothem?
Like, you, you want me to saythat to them like that?
Like, can I say it like this?
And so it, it took me, I can'teven tell you how long to really
get to the place where, I won'tsay that I'm comfortable, but
it, it's, there's no hesitationnow.
(06:00):
Mm-hmm.
And so initially when he firststarted, using me in that way,
I, I was very hesitant to dothat because I didn't wanna say
those things.
Right.
You know?
Not that it was bad, but who amI to say that to you?
You know?
And so, that's the first thingthat came to my mind.
But because I love him..
Mm-hmm...
and because I'm willing to dowhat he wants me to do, and
(06:21):
because I am his hands and feetand his voice in this case, I
surrendered my will for hiswill.
And then the more I did it, theeasier it has become.
Not that it's easy..
Mm-hmm...
right.
But the easier, that it becomes.
Susan Dies (06:33):
Right.
And I can totally relate tothat.
Mm-hmm.
Because you know that I am muchthe same way.
Yeah.
I'm pretty reserved.
And even though I've beenteaching Bible study for, 20
plus years now, Yeah.
you would think that I wouldn'tget nervous anymore.
Mm-hmm.
And yet every single time..
Mm-hmm...
my heart's racing..
I'm talking to the Lord and Isay, Lord, Yeah...
help me to say this in the waythat you want me to say it by
(06:54):
your Spirit.
Don't let it be my opinion.
Mm-hmm.
Don't let me chase a rabbit.
Don't let me..
Yeah...
babble on and waste anybody'stime.
I love the Lord so much and Iwanna be so responsible..
Yes...
with his word.
Mm-hmm.
So it's not that I don't trusthim to help me.
I don't trust me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And so, you know, I totally get,when he wants to use us in a way
(07:14):
that's outside of our comfortzone..
Absolutely...
that's a huge Yes.
Keidra Hobley (07:18):
And I think that, I think that's even healthy A
little bit of, if you wanna callit nervousness, because it's
just a reminder that we have tobe completely dependent on him.
Susan Dies (07:28):
Right.
Right.
We can't do it.
I say it every time, Lord, Ican't do this without you.
Yeah.
Help me.
But I can think of many timeswhen what God's word actually
tells us to do is not what Iwanna do in my flesh.
Yeah...
but when I do things his way,I've experienced over and over
again, that he not only empowersme to do it..
Mm-hmm...
but he also blesses me in waysthat I would've missed had I
(07:49):
just done what I wanted to do..
Yes...
or done it in the way I wantedto do it.
Mm-hmm.
Another thing I found though iswhen God is asking me to do
something that I think is reallyhard..
I'll choose forgiveness...
'cause that's hard foreverybody.
Mm-hmm.
If I just picture Jesus on thecross..
Mm-hmm...
you know, just enduring what heendured for me, whatever he's
(08:09):
asking me to do pales incomparison.
You know, sometimes I evenpicture him looking at me with
eyes filled with tenderness andcompassion...
because he knows that what he'sasking me to do is hard for me.
Yes.
And I picture him saying,"Susan,will you just do it for me?" Oh,
I immediately I'm like,"Yes,Lord, I can do it for you." But
then I have to go do it rightaway because otherwise Satan is
(08:31):
gonna try to tempt me to changemy mind.
Yeah.
And so I don't delay.
That's good.
That's good.
When I know it's something hewants me to do Yeah.
Just go do it.
That's so good.
But these are the experiencesthat shape us.
When we read God's word...
we know what he wants us todo...
we sense his Spirit compellingus to put the things that God is
telling us into practice, evenif we don't want to, even when
it's hard and uncomfortable,when we allow the love of Christ
(08:52):
to be our motivation..
Mm-hmm...
to obey...
it makes all the difference inthe world.
And as a result, we live thatblessed life that Jesus came to
give us.
Yeah.
And so I want us to talkspecifically about some of the
things that God wants us to doas believers Yes.
And as his children.
Okay.
I'm gonna ask you first.
What's something that the loveof Christ compels you to do?
Keidra Hobley (09:13):
To love other people.
To serve..
Mm-hmm...
his people...
in the church, outside thechurch.
Mm-hmm.
Um.
To forgive quickly.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
This is gonna sound weird, butjust to enjoy life.
Like his love compels me toenjoy my life.
Like I literally had to forgivemyself quickly for something the
other day.
(09:34):
I'm willing to forgive everybodyelse quickly.
Mm.
I had to choose to forgivemyself quickly.
Keidra, the Father loves you.
Yes.
He forgives you.
I love that.
It's okay to enjoy your life.
Forgive yourself and go enjoyyour life.
So..
Right..
For me, his love compels me toenjoy my life.
Amen.
Yeah.
Susan Dies (09:50):
I love that.
In keeping with that, the veryfirst thing that came to my mind
was the love of Christ compelsme to rejoice.
That's so good.
Philippians 4:4 says,"Rejoice inthe Lord always.
I will say it again, rejoice."And that's not always an easy
thing to do because life can behard...
and we all endure seasons ofheartbreak and disappointment,
(10:12):
and sometimes to rejoice justseems a little too much to ask.
But I think the key is torealize this verse isn't telling
us to rejoice in thecircumstances.
Yeah.
But to rejoice in the Lord.
So no matter how hard life getsor what we have to endure, the
Lord has already promised I'mnever gonna leave you or forsake
you.
Mm-hmm.
He's promised to be ourcomforter.
He's promised to help us.
(10:33):
He's promised that he is near tothe brokenhearted.
Romans 12:12 says to rejoice inhope because he is our hope.
Yeah.
And so no matter what we face inthis life, no matter how
difficult our circumstances...
we always have a reason torejoice, because we have him.
Keidra Hobley (10:48):
Yes.
That's so good.
Yes.
I wanna rejoice about that rightnow.
Amen.
Susan Dies (10:52):
Another thing that the love of Christ compels me to
do is share the gospel.
Okay.
That's the next thing that cameto my mind.
1 Peter 3:15 says,"In yourhearts, revere Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give areason to everyone who asks you
to give the reason for the hopeyou have in Christ.
But do this with gentleness andrespect." What comes to your
mind when you hear that verse?
Keidra Hobley (11:14):
I think that it's the gentleness part that makes
people receptive to hear..
That's right...
the gospel.
Susan Dies (11:19):
That's right.
We have to remember that noteveryone knows him.
Keidra Hobley (11:22):
Yeah.
Susan Dies (11:23):
Or believes the things that we're sharing with
them.
And to not force our beliefs onsomeone.
Yeah.
Nobody's receptive to that.
But to start with just sharingour story.
Yes.
To also consider that, no onewants the hell, fire and
brimstone, right?
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Is hell a real place?
Yes it is.
But So is heaven.
Yes.
It's, and God doesn't want ourmotivation to follow him to be,
(11:45):
I don't wanna go to hell..
Yeah...
but to be, God loves me so much,and He doesn't want me to go
there...
and so he's made a way throughJesus so that I don't have to.
And so that's a very differentway that we present..
Mm-hmm...
the gospel, I think, that helpspeople wanna be drawn in by it
rather than repelled by it.
Keidra Hobley (12:02):
Yeah.
And then I love him so much thatI wanna live with him forever.
Right.
That's a whole differentperspective.
Susan Dies (12:09):
Right.
And then we love other people somuch.
We want them to live with himand with us forever.
That's so good.
Again, we've gotta start withthe people in our spheres of
influence.
So there is no reason, if we saythat we love Jesus..
Mm-hmm...
for us to ever hold back,sharing our testimony and to
share with other people whathe's done for us.
And then the love of Christcompels me to live a life of
(12:31):
holiness.
That's good.
You know, 1 Peter 1:16 says,"Beholy..
Yeah...
for I'm holy." That's Godspeaking.
And so what does that look like?
Holiness is simply being setapart for God.
Yeah.
To separate myself from sin.
And while, I don't do thisperfectly, none of us do this
perfectly, it is my desire forsin in my life to be the
exception and not the rule.
(12:52):
Mm-hmm.
And to quickly ask forgivenesswhen I realize that my life is
out of alignment with God's wordand God's will to quickly
confess that.
He's not expecting us to beperfect.
Yeah.
But he does want us to be holy.
He wants that to be our mindsetand when I yield my desires to
the desires of the Spirit livingin me...
(13:12):
his very presence makes me morelike Jesus.
Yeah.
And that's what makes me holy.
And because I love Jesus andbecause I want to live a life
that honors him, that's mymotivation.
Yes.
That's so good.
All right.
Well, another thing that thelove of Christ compels me to do
is to grow and mature as abeliever.
Mm-hmm.
And, and by that I mean I'veheard the gospel, I've received
(13:33):
Christ as my savior.
Now I've gotta learn how to walkthat out.
Yes.
Things have to change becausethe Holy Spirit that lives in us
is the same power that raisedChrist from the dead.
There's no way the spirit cancome to live in someone and
there not be a change.
Right?
Yeah, that's right...
'cause that's incredible power.
No Holy Spirit, no power.
No power, no Holy Spirit.
In this season of our podcast,you know, we're dedicating each
(13:56):
podcast to a different fruit ofthe spirit, which is clear
evidence that his spirit livesin us, and love is the very
first fruit that's mentioned inGalatians 5 22.
And genuine love changes us...
and it rearranges ourpriorities...
and our values, and it's God'sspirit living in us that helps
us to do that.
Have you found that to be true?
Keidra Hobley (14:16):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
There are ways that we naturallycannot receive love or love
other people, if not for theHoly Spirit.
Susan Dies (14:24):
How would you say your love for him has helped
change the way you prioritizeyour days and how you spend your
time and what it is that youvalue the most?
Keidra Hobley (14:33):
Oh my goodness.
I, This is gonna sound funny butright now, I have a sink full of
dishes.
I have a basket full of clothes,like at home.
I'm thinking about all thechores, all the things that I
really would like to alreadyhave done, but I haven't done
them because there are otherthings the things of God...
souls are more important.
People are more important.
(14:55):
Loving on people is moreimportant.
So for me, that's really what itlooks like.
It's a lot like, okay, you canclean your room tomorrow.
Mm-hmm.
Or the day after tomorrow ornext week.
Cause every day, day.
Now did you do that with yourkids?
You can do it tomorrow or nextweek?
Of course not.
Of course not.
You'll do this today before youget to do anything else.
(15:16):
But, but, but the love of Godcompels me to not make that task
the priority.
Right.
It's his son, it's his daughter.
It's the person that's standingin front of me.
That's the priority.
So.
Right.
That's how his love, for me andmy love for him has compelled me
to do things totally different..
Yeah...
than I've done them in the past.
Susan Dies (15:35):
That brings a lot of freedom.
It does.
Another thing the love of Christcompels us to do is to get rid
of bitterness..
Mm-hmm...
and anger and resentment andfighting and slander and a
desire for revenge.
All the toxic things that Godknows will ruin our lives if we
let it.
And to instead choose to be kindand compassionate and forgiving,
(15:55):
just as in Christ, God hasforgiven us.
That's Ephesians 4:31-32.
But what I was thinking about iswhen we feel wronged..
Yeah...
this is a very hard thing thatGod asks us to do.
But he knows how toxic it is andhow it will ruin our lives if we
hold onto that.
Have you ever thought about thefact that it takes more
(16:16):
strength, incredible strength tobe kind and compassionate and
forgiving when we've been hurtor wronged than it does to be
angry and bitter?
Absolutely.
So think of it that way.
If we're gonna do what everybodyelse does, where's the power in
all of that?
We're not being weak when wefollow the example of Jesus.
We're actually exhibitingincredible strength, which
(16:37):
actually keeps us from living inthat victim mentality.
Mm-hmm.
And again, when we think of whatJesus endured and we follow his
example, and we let that be whatmotivates us, God blesses that
and he will make sure to makeright the things that have been
done wrong to us.
We can trust that.
He said he would, and we have toleave that to him.
And in the meantime we can livein freedom from all those toxic
(17:01):
emotions that we experience whenwe hang onto that anger and
bitterness.
Yes.
Another thing, the love ofChrist compels me to pray.
Yes.
And this may sound obvious, yetI think it's the spiritual
discipline that maybe I can takemost for granted...
that I see a lot of Christianstake for granted.
When you really think about it,that the creator of the
universe...
that the God of heaven, thesavior of the world, that he
(17:24):
invites me..
Mm-hmm...
and you..
Mm-hmm...
to bring everything to him.
That he invites us to comeboldly before he's throne, any
time of the day or night.
Mm-hmm.
And yet, sometimes I'm too busyto pray or I'm too distracted to
pray, or I'm too overwhelmed topray, or I forget to pray, or
I'm too tired to pray.
And when that happens, I missout on that power that comes
(17:45):
from this incredible gift if Idon't prioritize it.
Keidra Hobley (17:48):
Well, and I'm just thinking even to love him,
to the point where you justwanna be in his presence.
Mm.
Like undistracted.
You may not even be sayinganything.
You're not asking for anything.
You're just listening.
You're just with him, right?
Like that.
That's the kind of love that youwant to be able to receive from
him and to offer to him...
(18:09):
just to be in his presence.
Susan Dies (18:11):
What about this one, you kind of touched on this.
The love of Christ compels us tolove everyone as Christ has
loved us.
And that's because he came foreveryone.
Yeah.
You know, he didn't just comefor us and the people we love,
but for the whole world.
Yes.
When you think about the factthat Christ died for everyone,
not just for some people, butfor everyone.
That he wants to save everyone.
(18:33):
Mm-hmm.
How do you think that challengesour thinking, whether we say it
out loud or not, that somepeople have sinned so
egregiously that they may notdeserve that kind of love or
that grace?
Keidra Hobley (18:45):
Yeah.
I think the first thing is wehave to take ourself off the
throne.
Mm.
There's only one righteousjudge, and so who are we to
judge?
I think the other thing is oncewe get off the throne, we need
to go somewhere and look in themirror.
Amen.
Because we too have sinned andfallen short of the glory of
(19:05):
God, and yet he still chose toforgive us and love us.
Right?
So why would we not extend thatvery same thing..
Yes...
to other people.
And, I think we have a tendencyto qualify sin.
Yes.
Like, you know, because someoneelse did something that we see
as quote unquote a big sin.
We, think that's unforgivableversus our quote unquote little
(19:28):
sin.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
If you lie, you've sinned.
Mm.
Right.
And that, needs to be forgiven.
Yeah.
And we still want the Father tolove us even though we have
sinned in that way.
So we should extend the samething to anybody else no matter
what it is that they've done'cause sin is sin.
Susan Dies (19:43):
Right.
But I think that's kind of hardto grasp.
I used to work as a nurse in thepediatric ICU, and, the hardest
patients that I ever had to carefor emotionally were children
who were there because they hadbeen abused.
Mm.
They're on the ventilator.
They're fighting for their livesbecause the ones who were
supposed to care for them hadabused them.
(20:04):
Like I had a really hard time..
Yeah...
with that.
And I still think of this, onechild in particular.
And I can remember, I'm notgonna tell you exactly what I
said to God about this situationor this person that I didn't
believe deserved his love orcompassion, but I was so upset
by it.
And, I just couldn't fathom howthe person who did this could
(20:24):
deserve salvation.
And I was upset just thinkingabout this child going through
the things that had broughtthem, to be one of my patients.
And I just couldn't wrap myheart, my mind around how God
could love someone who did this.
But eventually I did have tocome to terms with the fact that
he loves everyone.
He hates our sin, but he loveseveryone.
(20:44):
Yeah.
And that none of us deserve hisgrace and his mercy.
And the next time I had to teachon forgiveness, he brought this
to my mind.
Wow.
Boy that was a wrestling.
I was like, you know, I reallydon't wanna teach on this.
But you know, it was one of thegreatest lessons because I did
have to really stop and thinkand hear God's voice say,"Susan,
(21:07):
I love him as much as I loveyou." That's so good.
And that was just so hard.
Mm-hmm.
It is just good that I'm notGod.
Yes.
I'd make a terrible God..
Yes...
because I have such a bias.
But I can also tell you that theHoly Spirit has done an
incredible work in me and tochange my thinking about things
like this and to just give it tohim so that I don't allow those
situations to harden my heart tothe people who desperately need
(21:31):
God's love to change them.
And I say all this because I'msure there are other believers
listening and maybe evennon-believers listening to this
who have struggled with this butJesus wants us to leave it with
him.
Yes.
And we can do that if weremember the grace and the love
that he's shown us.
That's so good.
Alright, well what would you sayto someone who might say, I've
never really experienced thekind of love that you're talking
(21:52):
about.
Mm-hmm.
You know, I don't know that I'veever experienced the love of
Christ for myself.
Mm.
What would you say to thatperson?
Keidra Hobley (21:58):
You know, it's not so much about what I would
say.
Okay.
I think it's more about what Iwould do.
Okay.
Because to me, love is action.
Right.
You know, and I think forsomeone who's never experienced
it, they want to see love inaction.
Hmm.
Like, it, it can't be explainedsometimes.
So I, I think of times where itdepends on who's standing in
front of me and what the needis.
Sometimes it's just givingsomebody a hug...
(22:21):
that allows them to experiencethe love of Christ.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes it's, you know, just aword..
Yeah...
that the Lord places on my heartto share with them and they know
that there's no way I could'veknown that.
Right.
It's example like God sees you.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Sometimes it's meeting a naturalneed.
Nobody's really gonna bereceptive to hearing about the
love of God when I'm hungry.
(22:42):
Right.
I literally just this past weekhad a family, they had no food
in the pantry.
Mm-hmm.
Well, that's not the time for meto open my Bible and say,"turn
with me to".
Yeah.
No, it's.
Go get them some food and stocktheir refrigerator and their
pantry.
That is a demonstration of thelove of God.
Susan Dies (23:01):
Yeah.
Then you have an opportunity..
That, that's it...
to share the love of Jesus...
and they've experienced itthrough you.
They've experienced itfirsthand.
And because the spirit lives inus...
it is him loving them throughus.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
I love that.
You know, I mentioned last week,that season two of our podcast
is gonna highlight divinecharacteristics that are clearly
seen in the lives of believersthat are a direct result of the
(23:24):
influence of the Holy Spiritliving inside of us.
And that's why we began thisseason with Say Yes to the
Spirit because we can't do anyof the things that we've talked
about today, or any of thethings we're gonna be talking
about over these next, couple ofmonths, without the presence and
the power of the Holy Spiritfilling us again and again and
again.
Because what happens is whenwe're seeking to live a life
(23:46):
that honors God, and a life thatfocuses more on other people
than on ourselves, it's easy tobecome depleted.
Yeah.
Right?
Because as human beings, wedon't have unlimited anything.
That's right.
We don't have unlimited love, orjoy, or peace, or patience.
Or kindness, or goodness in andof ourselves.
Mm-hmm.
We have it only because thespirit lives in us and he's the
(24:06):
one that has all of these thingsin infinite measure, and we can
trust that he's gonna give usthose things that we need when
we need it, but sometimes wehave to stop and be compelled to
just rest in him.
Keidra Hobley (24:18):
Oh, that's so good.
Yeah.
The love of God compels us torest.
Susan Dies (24:22):
That's right.
He commands us to rest...
but his spirit in us compels us.
It's okay.
Like you said earlier, just giveyourself permission to do it.
Alright, well, we're out of timetoday, but we hope that you've
enjoyed today's podcast and thatyou'll join us again in a couple
of weeks for our next episode.
In the meantime, we would lovefor you to take a minute to
scroll down and leave us a text,or maybe head over to our
(24:43):
website, one yes@atime.net, andleave us a comment or a review
because we would love to hearfrom you.
So until next time, we justwanna encourage you to say yes
to the love of Christ and lethis love for you and your love
for him compel you to live alife more fully for him.
Because someone in your lifeneeds to know just how much
Jesus loves them, and he wantsyou to be the one to go and tell
(25:05):
them.
Yes.
Keidra, would you pray for us aswe close today?
Keidra Hobley (25:08):
I sure will.
Father, we thank you so much foryour love for us.
Thank you that by your spirit,you empower us to love other
people.
Amen.
Help us to always remember thatlove is a verb.
Yes, it's an action.
It's what we do that allowsother people to see how much you
love them.
So we thank you for theopportunity to love you and love
(25:31):
your people.
We thank you for it.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Amen.
Welcome to the One Yes At A Time podcast.
My name is Susan Dies and I'mhere with my friend and co-host,
Keidra Hobley, and today we'retalking about saying yes to love
that compels us.
What it looks like to truly putour love for God into practice
and what it is that motivates usto do that.
So Keidra, let's start with thekey verse...
look up Second Corinthians5:14-15
Keidra Hobley (01:00):
Yes, I sure will.
It says, For Christ's lovecompels us because we are
convinced that one died for alland therefore all died, and he
died for all that those who liveshould no longer live for
themselves but for him who diedfor them and was raised again."
Susan Dies (01:20):
So based on this verse, what should be the thing
that motivates us to share thegood news of the Gospel with
others?
Keidra Hobley (01:27):
The fact that Christ died for us.
Susan Dies (01:29):
Right.
For believers, it's the love ofChrist and the lengths to which
he went to show us his love.
Mm-hmm.
And the lengths to which hecontinues to show us his love,
that should motivate us, or asthis verse says, compel us.
So what does it mean to becompelled?
What is the difference betweenbeing motivated by an inner
desire and being compelled to dosomething?
Keidra Hobley (01:49):
Yeah, I, I see one as being inward...
and one being outward.
Like, to be self-motivatedthat's something that's on the
inside of me..
Right...
that's making me wanna dosomething to benefit me, versus
being compelled.
I see that as an outwardinfluence.
Like it's not self-motivated.
Mm-hmm.
It's something that is beyondme.
So to me, compelled is outward.
Susan Dies (02:09):
That's a good definition.
Well, you know, I love wordstudies, Uhhuh.
And so in the Greek, which isthe original language of the New
Testament, the word compelled inthis verse is the word'sunecho'.
Okay.
And it means to hold together.
To hold fast like a prisoner.
Mm-hmm.
Constrained to control.
Mm-hmm.
To press on every side in orderto move something in a
particular direction.
(02:30):
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
It's an irresistible urge thatmotivates us to action.
And so the verse you just readsays, the love of Christ compels
us.
And so if we put thesedefinitions at the end of that
sentence, it would read likethis.
The love of Christ holds ustogether.
That's so good.
The love of Christ holds us fastlike a prisoner.
The love of Christ constrainsand controls us.
(02:51):
The love of Christ is so strongthat it moves us in a particular
direction.
The love of Christ creates anirresistible urge within us, and
the love of Christ motivates usto action.
Keidra Hobley (03:02):
Oh, that's so good.
I like that.
Yeah.
Susan Dies (03:04):
And this is what Paul was saying...
that the love of Christ and ourunderstanding of just how much
he loves us, is meant to be adriving force...
the driving force behind ourwillingness to stop living a
life that's focused onourselves..
Mm-hmm...
and as this verse says, toinstead live our lives for him.
And when we consider that heliterally gave his life for us,
(03:25):
it's not too much to ask that welive our lives for him.
Yes.
Right?
And so let's talk about that.
What would it look like for usto choose to live our lives for
Jesus as opposed to living forourselves?
Keidra Hobley (03:36):
I mean that's, the very definition of dying to
self.
is not putting my own selfishdesires and will above what it
is that the Father has for us todo.
So it's literally taking himinto first consideration.
Right.
That's dying to self.
Susan Dies (03:51):
Right.
Looking at God's word..
Mm-hmm...
and what he wants us to do...
and being willing to do that.
Yeah.
Living for Jesus isn't easy andhe told us it wouldn't be easy.
Right.
And that's because God's waysare not our ways...
and so often what he tells us todo isn't necessarily what we
wanna do.
Mm-hmm.
Like many times we wanna do theexact opposite.
We wanna do what the world isdoing because that's what's
(04:13):
easier.
And I think it's because ashuman beings we tend to like
that path of least resistance.
Mm-hmm.
Right?
Yeah.
To just go with the flow.
But just going with the flow israrely God's plan.
He wants us to go against thetide.
Okay.
And he wants us to be different.
And his Spirit in us canmotivate us.
Mm-hmm.
Control, constrain, move us in aparticular direction if we're
(04:37):
allowing him to guide our lives.
God wants our lives to look morelike Jesus and less like the
world, and that's not easybecause temptation is so strong.
Yeah.
You know?
And we talked about that lastweek...
that God has given us his spiritto live inside of us, to help us
do those hard things and ifwe'll let him, he'll do that.
Yeah.
He will move us in thatdirection.
(04:58):
He will give us the strength todo the hard things that God
wants us to do.
So what about you?
Can you think of an example...
you knew that God wanted you todo something...
maybe you read something in hisword, or you heard a preacher
speak on something, that youwere wrestling with something
maybe uncomfortable or hard thatyou didn't necessarily wanna do,
but out of your love for Jesus,and with the help of the Holy
Spirit, you were able to dothat?
Keidra Hobley (05:19):
Yeah.
The first thing that comes to mymind is, just say something to
somebody.
I mean, it sounds so simple, andmost people would think, oh, she
wouldn't have a problem withthat.
But I'm, I'm really reservednaturally.
And so when the Lord reallystarted, using me in the area of
words of wisdom..
Mm-hmm...
you know, speaking to otherpeople concerning things, I was
(05:40):
very hesitant.
Hmm.
You want me to say what Lord?
Mm-hmm.
Like, you want me to say that tothem?
Like, you, you want me to saythat to them like that?
Like, can I say it like this?
And so it, it took me, I can'teven tell you how long to really
get to the place where, I won'tsay that I'm comfortable, but
it, it's, there's no hesitationnow.
(06:00):
Mm-hmm.
And so initially when he firststarted, using me in that way,
I, I was very hesitant to dothat because I didn't wanna say
those things.
Right.
You know?
Not that it was bad, but who amI to say that to you?
You know?
And so, that's the first thingthat came to my mind.
But because I love him..
Mm-hmm...
and because I'm willing to dowhat he wants me to do, and
(06:21):
because I am his hands and feetand his voice in this case, I
surrendered my will for hiswill.
And then the more I did it, theeasier it has become.
Not that it's easy..
Mm-hmm...
right.
But the easier, that it becomes.
Susan Dies (06:33):
Right.
And I can totally relate tothat.
Mm-hmm.
Because you know that I am muchthe same way.
Yeah.
I'm pretty reserved.
And even though I've beenteaching Bible study for, 20
plus years now, Yeah.
you would think that I wouldn'tget nervous anymore.
Mm-hmm.
And yet every single time..
Mm-hmm...
my heart's racing..
I'm talking to the Lord and Isay, Lord, Yeah...
help me to say this in the waythat you want me to say it by
(06:54):
your Spirit.
Don't let it be my opinion.
Mm-hmm.
Don't let me chase a rabbit.
Don't let me..
Yeah...
babble on and waste anybody'stime.
I love the Lord so much and Iwanna be so responsible..
Yes...
with his word.
Mm-hmm.
So it's not that I don't trusthim to help me.
I don't trust me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And so, you know, I totally get,when he wants to use us in a way
(07:14):
that's outside of our comfortzone..
Absolutely...
that's a huge Yes.
Keidra Hobley (07:18):
And I think that, I think that's even healthy A
little bit of, if you wanna callit nervousness, because it's
just a reminder that we have tobe completely dependent on him.
Susan Dies (07:28):
Right.
Right.
We can't do it.
I say it every time, Lord, Ican't do this without you.
Yeah.
Help me.
But I can think of many timeswhen what God's word actually
tells us to do is not what Iwanna do in my flesh.
Yeah...
but when I do things his way,I've experienced over and over
again, that he not only empowersme to do it..
Mm-hmm...
but he also blesses me in waysthat I would've missed had I
(07:49):
just done what I wanted to do..
Yes...
or done it in the way I wantedto do it.
Mm-hmm.
Another thing I found though iswhen God is asking me to do
something that I think is reallyhard..
I'll choose forgiveness...
'cause that's hard foreverybody.
Mm-hmm.
If I just picture Jesus on thecross..
Mm-hmm...
you know, just enduring what heendured for me, whatever he's
(08:09):
asking me to do pales incomparison.
You know, sometimes I evenpicture him looking at me with
eyes filled with tenderness andcompassion...
because he knows that what he'sasking me to do is hard for me.
Yes.
And I picture him saying,"Susan,will you just do it for me?" Oh,
I immediately I'm like,"Yes,Lord, I can do it for you." But
then I have to go do it rightaway because otherwise Satan is
(08:31):
gonna try to tempt me to changemy mind.
Yeah.
And so I don't delay.
That's good.
That's good.
When I know it's something hewants me to do Yeah.
Just go do it.
That's so good.
But these are the experiencesthat shape us.
When we read God's word...
we know what he wants us todo...
we sense his Spirit compellingus to put the things that God is
telling us into practice, evenif we don't want to, even when
it's hard and uncomfortable,when we allow the love of Christ
(08:52):
to be our motivation..
Mm-hmm...
to obey...
it makes all the difference inthe world.
And as a result, we live thatblessed life that Jesus came to
give us.
Yeah.
And so I want us to talkspecifically about some of the
things that God wants us to doas believers Yes.
And as his children.
Okay.
I'm gonna ask you first.
What's something that the loveof Christ compels you to do?
Keidra Hobley (09:13):
To love other people.
To serve..
Mm-hmm...
his people...
in the church, outside thechurch.
Mm-hmm.
Um.
To forgive quickly.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
This is gonna sound weird, butjust to enjoy life.
Like his love compels me toenjoy my life.
Like I literally had to forgivemyself quickly for something the
other day.
(09:34):
I'm willing to forgive everybodyelse quickly.
Mm.
I had to choose to forgivemyself quickly.
Keidra, the Father loves you.
Yes.
He forgives you.
I love that.
It's okay to enjoy your life.
Forgive yourself and go enjoyyour life.
So..
Right..
For me, his love compels me toenjoy my life.
Amen.
Yeah.
Susan Dies (09:50):
I love that.
In keeping with that, the veryfirst thing that came to my mind
was the love of Christ compelsme to rejoice.
That's so good.
Philippians 4:4 says,"Rejoice inthe Lord always.
I will say it again, rejoice."And that's not always an easy
thing to do because life can behard...
and we all endure seasons ofheartbreak and disappointment,
(10:12):
and sometimes to rejoice justseems a little too much to ask.
But I think the key is torealize this verse isn't telling
us to rejoice in thecircumstances.
Yeah.
But to rejoice in the Lord.
So no matter how hard life getsor what we have to endure, the
Lord has already promised I'mnever gonna leave you or forsake
you.
Mm-hmm.
He's promised to be ourcomforter.
He's promised to help us.
(10:33):
He's promised that he is near tothe brokenhearted.
Romans 12:12 says to rejoice inhope because he is our hope.
Yeah.
And so no matter what we face inthis life, no matter how
difficult our circumstances...
we always have a reason torejoice, because we have him.
Keidra Hobley (10:48):
Yes.
That's so good.
Yes.
I wanna rejoice about that rightnow.
Amen.
Susan Dies (10:52):
Another thing that the love of Christ compels me to
do is share the gospel.
Okay.
That's the next thing that cameto my mind.
1 Peter 3:15 says,"In yourhearts, revere Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give areason to everyone who asks you
to give the reason for the hopeyou have in Christ.
But do this with gentleness andrespect." What comes to your
mind when you hear that verse?
Keidra Hobley (11:14):
I think that it's the gentleness part that makes
people receptive to hear..
That's right...
the gospel.
Susan Dies (11:19):
That's right.
We have to remember that noteveryone knows him.
Keidra Hobley (11:22):
Yeah.
Susan Dies (11:23):
Or believes the things that we're sharing with
them.
And to not force our beliefs onsomeone.
Yeah.
Nobody's receptive to that.
But to start with just sharingour story.
Yes.
To also consider that, no onewants the hell, fire and
brimstone, right?
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Is hell a real place?
Yes it is.
But So is heaven.
Yes.
It's, and God doesn't want ourmotivation to follow him to be,
(11:45):
I don't wanna go to hell..
Yeah...
but to be, God loves me so much,and He doesn't want me to go
there...
and so he's made a way throughJesus so that I don't have to.
And so that's a very differentway that we present..
Mm-hmm...
the gospel, I think, that helpspeople wanna be drawn in by it
rather than repelled by it.
Keidra Hobley (12:02):
Yeah.
And then I love him so much thatI wanna live with him forever.
Right.
That's a whole differentperspective.
Susan Dies (12:09):
Right.
And then we love other people somuch.
We want them to live with himand with us forever.
That's so good.
Again, we've gotta start withthe people in our spheres of
influence.
So there is no reason, if we saythat we love Jesus..
Mm-hmm...
for us to ever hold back,sharing our testimony and to
share with other people whathe's done for us.
And then the love of Christcompels me to live a life of
(12:31):
holiness.
That's good.
You know, 1 Peter 1:16 says,"Beholy..
Yeah...
for I'm holy." That's Godspeaking.
And so what does that look like?
Holiness is simply being setapart for God.
Yeah.
To separate myself from sin.
And while, I don't do thisperfectly, none of us do this
perfectly, it is my desire forsin in my life to be the
exception and not the rule.
(12:52):
Mm-hmm.
And to quickly ask forgivenesswhen I realize that my life is
out of alignment with God's wordand God's will to quickly
confess that.
He's not expecting us to beperfect.
Yeah.
But he does want us to be holy.
He wants that to be our mindsetand when I yield my desires to
the desires of the Spirit livingin me...
(13:12):
his very presence makes me morelike Jesus.
Yeah.
And that's what makes me holy.
And because I love Jesus andbecause I want to live a life
that honors him, that's mymotivation.
Yes.
That's so good.
All right.
Well, another thing that thelove of Christ compels me to do
is to grow and mature as abeliever.
Mm-hmm.
And, and by that I mean I'veheard the gospel, I've received
(13:33):
Christ as my savior.
Now I've gotta learn how to walkthat out.
Yes.
Things have to change becausethe Holy Spirit that lives in us
is the same power that raisedChrist from the dead.
There's no way the spirit cancome to live in someone and
there not be a change.
Right?
Yeah, that's right...
'cause that's incredible power.
No Holy Spirit, no power.
No power, no Holy Spirit.
In this season of our podcast,you know, we're dedicating each
(13:56):
podcast to a different fruit ofthe spirit, which is clear
evidence that his spirit livesin us, and love is the very
first fruit that's mentioned inGalatians 5 22.
And genuine love changes us...
and it rearranges ourpriorities...
and our values, and it's God'sspirit living in us that helps
us to do that.
Have you found that to be true?
Keidra Hobley (14:16):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
There are ways that we naturallycannot receive love or love
other people, if not for theHoly Spirit.
Susan Dies (14:24):
How would you say your love for him has helped
change the way you prioritizeyour days and how you spend your
time and what it is that youvalue the most?
Keidra Hobley (14:33):
Oh my goodness.
I, This is gonna sound funny butright now, I have a sink full of
dishes.
I have a basket full of clothes,like at home.
I'm thinking about all thechores, all the things that I
really would like to alreadyhave done, but I haven't done
them because there are otherthings the things of God...
souls are more important.
People are more important.
(14:55):
Loving on people is moreimportant.
So for me, that's really what itlooks like.
It's a lot like, okay, you canclean your room tomorrow.
Mm-hmm.
Or the day after tomorrow ornext week.
Cause every day, day.
Now did you do that with yourkids?
You can do it tomorrow or nextweek?
Of course not.
Of course not.
You'll do this today before youget to do anything else.
(15:16):
But, but, but the love of Godcompels me to not make that task
the priority.
Right.
It's his son, it's his daughter.
It's the person that's standingin front of me.
That's the priority.
So.
Right.
That's how his love, for me andmy love for him has compelled me
to do things totally different..
Yeah...
than I've done them in the past.
Susan Dies (15:35):
That brings a lot of freedom.
It does.
Another thing the love of Christcompels us to do is to get rid
of bitterness..
Mm-hmm...
and anger and resentment andfighting and slander and a
desire for revenge.
All the toxic things that Godknows will ruin our lives if we
let it.
And to instead choose to be kindand compassionate and forgiving,
(15:55):
just as in Christ, God hasforgiven us.
That's Ephesians 4:31-32.
But what I was thinking about iswhen we feel wronged..
Yeah...
this is a very hard thing thatGod asks us to do.
But he knows how toxic it is andhow it will ruin our lives if we
hold onto that.
Have you ever thought about thefact that it takes more
(16:16):
strength, incredible strength tobe kind and compassionate and
forgiving when we've been hurtor wronged than it does to be
angry and bitter?
Absolutely.
So think of it that way.
If we're gonna do what everybodyelse does, where's the power in
all of that?
We're not being weak when wefollow the example of Jesus.
We're actually exhibitingincredible strength, which
(16:37):
actually keeps us from living inthat victim mentality.
Mm-hmm.
And again, when we think of whatJesus endured and we follow his
example, and we let that be whatmotivates us, God blesses that
and he will make sure to makeright the things that have been
done wrong to us.
We can trust that.
He said he would, and we have toleave that to him.
And in the meantime we can livein freedom from all those toxic
(17:01):
emotions that we experience whenwe hang onto that anger and
bitterness.
Yes.
Another thing, the love ofChrist compels me to pray.
Yes.
And this may sound obvious, yetI think it's the spiritual
discipline that maybe I can takemost for granted...
that I see a lot of Christianstake for granted.
When you really think about it,that the creator of the
universe...
that the God of heaven, thesavior of the world, that he
(17:24):
invites me..
Mm-hmm...
and you..
Mm-hmm...
to bring everything to him.
That he invites us to comeboldly before he's throne, any
time of the day or night.
Mm-hmm.
And yet, sometimes I'm too busyto pray or I'm too distracted to
pray, or I'm too overwhelmed topray, or I forget to pray, or
I'm too tired to pray.
And when that happens, I missout on that power that comes
(17:45):
from this incredible gift if Idon't prioritize it.
Keidra Hobley (17:48):
Well, and I'm just thinking even to love him,
to the point where you justwanna be in his presence.
Mm.
Like undistracted.
You may not even be sayinganything.
You're not asking for anything.
You're just listening.
You're just with him, right?
Like that.
That's the kind of love that youwant to be able to receive from
him and to offer to him...
(18:09):
just to be in his presence.
Susan Dies (18:11):
What about this one, you kind of touched on this.
The love of Christ compels us tolove everyone as Christ has
loved us.
And that's because he came foreveryone.
Yeah.
You know, he didn't just comefor us and the people we love,
but for the whole world.
Yes.
When you think about the factthat Christ died for everyone,
not just for some people, butfor everyone.
That he wants to save everyone.
(18:33):
Mm-hmm.
How do you think that challengesour thinking, whether we say it
out loud or not, that somepeople have sinned so
egregiously that they may notdeserve that kind of love or
that grace?
Keidra Hobley (18:45):
Yeah.
I think the first thing is wehave to take ourself off the
throne.
Mm.
There's only one righteousjudge, and so who are we to
judge?
I think the other thing is oncewe get off the throne, we need
to go somewhere and look in themirror.
Amen.
Because we too have sinned andfallen short of the glory of
(19:05):
God, and yet he still chose toforgive us and love us.
Right?
So why would we not extend thatvery same thing..
Yes...
to other people.
And, I think we have a tendencyto qualify sin.
Yes.
Like, you know, because someoneelse did something that we see
as quote unquote a big sin.
We, think that's unforgivableversus our quote unquote little
(19:28):
sin.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
If you lie, you've sinned.
Mm.
Right.
And that, needs to be forgiven.
Yeah.
And we still want the Father tolove us even though we have
sinned in that way.
So we should extend the samething to anybody else no matter
what it is that they've done'cause sin is sin.
Susan Dies (19:43):
Right.
But I think that's kind of hardto grasp.
I used to work as a nurse in thepediatric ICU, and, the hardest
patients that I ever had to carefor emotionally were children
who were there because they hadbeen abused.
Mm.
They're on the ventilator.
They're fighting for their livesbecause the ones who were
supposed to care for them hadabused them.
(20:04):
Like I had a really hard time..
Yeah...
with that.
And I still think of this, onechild in particular.
And I can remember, I'm notgonna tell you exactly what I
said to God about this situationor this person that I didn't
believe deserved his love orcompassion, but I was so upset
by it.
And, I just couldn't fathom howthe person who did this could
(20:24):
deserve salvation.
And I was upset just thinkingabout this child going through
the things that had broughtthem, to be one of my patients.
And I just couldn't wrap myheart, my mind around how God
could love someone who did this.
But eventually I did have tocome to terms with the fact that
he loves everyone.
He hates our sin, but he loveseveryone.
(20:44):
Yeah.
And that none of us deserve hisgrace and his mercy.
And the next time I had to teachon forgiveness, he brought this
to my mind.
Wow.
Boy that was a wrestling.
I was like, you know, I reallydon't wanna teach on this.
But you know, it was one of thegreatest lessons because I did
have to really stop and thinkand hear God's voice say,"Susan,
(21:07):
I love him as much as I loveyou." That's so good.
And that was just so hard.
Mm-hmm.
It is just good that I'm notGod.
Yes.
I'd make a terrible God..
Yes...
because I have such a bias.
But I can also tell you that theHoly Spirit has done an
incredible work in me and tochange my thinking about things
like this and to just give it tohim so that I don't allow those
situations to harden my heart tothe people who desperately need
(21:31):
God's love to change them.
And I say all this because I'msure there are other believers
listening and maybe evennon-believers listening to this
who have struggled with this butJesus wants us to leave it with
him.
Yes.
And we can do that if weremember the grace and the love
that he's shown us.
That's so good.
Alright, well what would you sayto someone who might say, I've
never really experienced thekind of love that you're talking
(21:52):
about.
Mm-hmm.
You know, I don't know that I'veever experienced the love of
Christ for myself.
Mm.
What would you say to thatperson?
Keidra Hobley (21:58):
You know, it's not so much about what I would
say.
Okay.
I think it's more about what Iwould do.
Okay.
Because to me, love is action.
Right.
You know, and I think forsomeone who's never experienced
it, they want to see love inaction.
Hmm.
Like, it, it can't be explainedsometimes.
So I, I think of times where itdepends on who's standing in
front of me and what the needis.
Sometimes it's just givingsomebody a hug...
(22:21):
that allows them to experiencethe love of Christ.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes it's, you know, just aword..
Yeah...
that the Lord places on my heartto share with them and they know
that there's no way I could'veknown that.
Right.
It's example like God sees you.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Sometimes it's meeting a naturalneed.
Nobody's really gonna bereceptive to hearing about the
love of God when I'm hungry.
(22:42):
Right.
I literally just this past weekhad a family, they had no food
in the pantry.
Mm-hmm.
Well, that's not the time for meto open my Bible and say,"turn
with me to".
Yeah.
No, it's.
Go get them some food and stocktheir refrigerator and their
pantry.
That is a demonstration of thelove of God.
Susan Dies (23:01):
Yeah.
Then you have an opportunity..
That, that's it...
to share the love of Jesus...
and they've experienced itthrough you.
They've experienced itfirsthand.
And because the spirit lives inus...
it is him loving them throughus.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
I love that.
You know, I mentioned last week,that season two of our podcast
is gonna highlight divinecharacteristics that are clearly
seen in the lives of believersthat are a direct result of the
(23:24):
influence of the Holy Spiritliving inside of us.
And that's why we began thisseason with Say Yes to the
Spirit because we can't do anyof the things that we've talked
about today, or any of thethings we're gonna be talking
about over these next, couple ofmonths, without the presence and
the power of the Holy Spiritfilling us again and again and
again.
Because what happens is whenwe're seeking to live a life
(23:46):
that honors God, and a life thatfocuses more on other people
than on ourselves, it's easy tobecome depleted.
Yeah.
Right?
Because as human beings, wedon't have unlimited anything.
That's right.
We don't have unlimited love, orjoy, or peace, or patience.
Or kindness, or goodness in andof ourselves.
Mm-hmm.
We have it only because thespirit lives in us and he's the
(24:06):
one that has all of these thingsin infinite measure, and we can
trust that he's gonna give usthose things that we need when
we need it, but sometimes wehave to stop and be compelled to
just rest in him.
Keidra Hobley (24:18):
Oh, that's so good.
Yeah.
The love of God compels us torest.
Susan Dies (24:22):
That's right.
He commands us to rest...
but his spirit in us compels us.
It's okay.
Like you said earlier, just giveyourself permission to do it.
Alright, well, we're out of timetoday, but we hope that you've
enjoyed today's podcast and thatyou'll join us again in a couple
of weeks for our next episode.
In the meantime, we would lovefor you to take a minute to
scroll down and leave us a text,or maybe head over to our
(24:43):
website, one yes@atime.net, andleave us a comment or a review
because we would love to hearfrom you.
So until next time, we justwanna encourage you to say yes
to the love of Christ and lethis love for you and your love
for him compel you to live alife more fully for him.
Because someone in your lifeneeds to know just how much
Jesus loves them, and he wantsyou to be the one to go and tell
(25:05):
them.
Yes.
Keidra, would you pray for us aswe close today?
Keidra Hobley (25:08):
I sure will.
Father, we thank you so much foryour love for us.
Thank you that by your spirit,you empower us to love other
people.
Amen.
Help us to always remember thatlove is a verb.
Yes, it's an action.
It's what we do that allowsother people to see how much you
love them.
So we thank you for theopportunity to love you and love
(25:31):
your people.
We thank you for it.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Amen.
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