Love Is a Choice

In review of Deuteronomy 30:20 it says, “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” (NIV).

Today’s verse is the last part of Deuteronomy 30. In it Moses tells Israel and myself to love the Lord my God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then myself and my descendants will live long in the land and things that he promised to give me.

Moses challenged Israel and myself to choose life, to obey God, and therefore continue to experience his blessings. God will never force him will on anyone. He lets each of us decide whether to follow or reject him. This decision, is a life or death matter. God wants me to realize this, for he would like me to choose life. Daily, in each situation, I must affirm and reinforce this commitment.  

Too many people have bought into the myth that love is uncontrollable, that it’s something that just happens to us. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, “I fell in love,” as if love were some kind of a ditch. I’m walking along one day and—bam!—I fell in love. I couldn’t help myself.

But here’s 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 that attraction and arousal are uncontrollable. But attraction and arousal are not love. They can lead to love, but they are not love. Love is a choice.

I must choose to love God; he won’t force me 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: I can choose to love others, but God won’t force me to love anyone.

Bottom Line:

Love, obey and be faithful to God, then you and your heirs will live long.

What this means to me:

If I love, obey and am faithful to God, then myself and my descendants will live long in what he gives me.

In summary, if I love, obey and am faithful to God, then it will go well for me and my descendants. God will never force his will on me. He lets me decide whether to follow or reject him. The decision is life impacting. Daily, I must affirm and re-enforce my commitment to Him. When it comes to love, a lot of people have bought into the myth that love is uncontrollable, that it's something that just happens to us. But love just doesn't happen, it's a choice and represents a commitment. Love is a choice.

This morning I renew my commitment to love, obey and be faithful to God. I pray this morning for your wisdom and guidance in handling my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus name, amen!