Skip to main content

You Must Choose to Love God

You Must Choose to Love God:
"That you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Deuteronomy 30:20 NIV)
Today we've bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it's something that just happens to us; it's not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, "I fell in love," as if love is some kind of a ditch. It's like I'm walking along one day and - bam! - I fell in love. I couldn't help myself.
But I have to tell you the truth: That's not love. Love doesn't just happen to you. Love is a choice, and it represents a commitment.
There's no doubt about it: Attraction is uncontrollable, and arousal is uncontrollable. But attraction and arousal are not love. They can lead to love, but they are not love. Love is a choice.
You must choose to love God; he won't force you to love him (Deuteronomy 30:20). You can thumb your nose at God and go a totally different way. You can destroy your life if you choose to do that. God still won't force you to love him, because he knows love can't be forced.
This same principle is true about your relationships: You can choose to love others, but God won't force you to love anyone.
Talk About It

  • How is love received differently when it's understood that it is a choice?

  • What is the difference between love that is from God and love that is based on human understanding?

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." His book, "The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.
This devotional ©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My trip back to Europe in ONE word (Part 1/2) - Coronavirus

It was a normal working day on a hot and usually dusty afternoon in Yaounde when I got the call to come and collect my Visa for my upcoming trip to Italy. I was elated. It had been 17 years since I had last seen my foster aunts and cousins. I was beside myself.  I distinctly remember my trip back to wish my father goodbye and how emotional I was because I knew that somehow I will not see him for a long while. I remember the bus trip back to Yaounde and how surreal it all felt (especially since there was a job interview lined up in Munich).   Me on the bus (in the middle of nowhere) on my way back to Yaounde. Clearly I was too excited to sleep (like someone next to me). I was already missing my lovely Cameroon. On the news, the coronavirus (covid-19) was beginning to show its ugly head in Italy and various other neighbouring countries. My aunt even told me to postpone my trip, but it was too late. I was already packed. Don't mess with a black man and his luggage! Me, mysel...
7 comments
Read more

Earnestly seek Him - Call to change

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and mthat he rewards those who seek him. I've read this passage a thousand times and it never fails to ring sound doctrine in my heart. Too often I take it for granted that God is not pleased by mere "Lord, Lord" words coming out of my mouth. Too many times I lack effort in putting structures and plans that will drive me towards Him and His grace. I don't often ask myself "How can I grow in drawing near to God?" or "Does my life truly reflects his existence?". It's so easy to get caught up in the "pattern of this world", so easy to be "polluted by this world" David's charge to Solomon (1Chr 28) 9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, zfor the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be f...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sometimes God Says 'Not Yet'

Sometimes God Says 'Not Yet' : "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, 'In just a very little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.'" (Hebrews 10:36-37 NIV) If you're discouraged because of God's delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is not a denial. Just because the answer hasn't come yet doesn't mean God isn't going to answer or that he's forgotten you or that he doesn't care about you. It simply means "not yet"! Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between "no" and "not yet," between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, "He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). God's delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once, and most people can be patient twice. A lot of us can even be patient three ti...
Post a Comment
Read more