2 Corinthians 5:14-16 NASB95
For the love of Christ controls (compels) us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; [15] and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. [16] Therefore from now on, we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
In verse 14, the word “control” or “compel” I believe would be better translated by the word “taken.” Paul says that he had been “taken” by the love of Christ. When you read these verses and the surrounding context, it is hard to be clear as to whether Paul is talking about being taken by the love of Christ for him, or being taken by his love for Christ, or being taken by the love of Christ for others. Of course, the answer is all of the above. 1 John 4:19 says that “We love because He first loved us.” Grammatically that verse in 1 John 4 literally says, “We continually walk in love because He completely and thoroughly loved us.”
Our love for Him and our stewarding His love for others is all a result of our being “taken” or “stolen away” by His love for us. This is why the most precious gift that God has given us is the gift of intimacy with Him. It is there in the secret place that we nourish our hearts in the waves of His love for us, and therefore nurture our responsive love for Him. As our love response to Him grows in worship and unbridled surrender, we increasingly find ourselves being in union with His immense heart for others. We are “taken” by His love for us, and then “taken” by our increasing love for Him into a life of radical obedience and faith, and ultimately “taken” by the beating, broken, and joyful heart of Jesus for others.