Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20. “I just fell in love!” Have you ever heard or said that? It gives us the impression that love is something uncontrollable. It just happens to you.
But here’s the problem. Jesus commands us to love one another:
John 13:34–35 NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
How could Jesus command us to do something that is outside of our control? The answer is, he can’t. Because love isn’t uncontrollable. It’s isn’t something that just happens. It’s a choice. It’s a commitment.
God gives us the choice to love and to follow him. You can choose to turn away from God and go your own way. But he warns you that ultimately, that choice will lead to death. He still won’t force you, because love is a choice. It can’t be forced.
The same is true in respect of our relationships. We choose whether or not to love someone else. God won’t force us to love anyone. It’s a commitment only we can make.
Will you choose to Love God and Love Others? If you do, then you’ll choose life.
THINK IT OVER
Think about the following:
How do you understand love differently once you realise it’s a choice rather than a feeling?