Many wars have been waged, and millions of people have been persecuted and slaughtered in the name of forcing entire cultures to submit to a religion. It certainly makes one wonder about the NATURE of the “god” being forced on the unconverted. Even in devoutly Christian homes, God is often predominantly presented as someone fearful and impersonal. I don’t want this to be a negative message; but rather, to point out the obvious—no one can force anyone to love anything or anyone—not even to love God.
Real love is a choice of the heart.
Real love changes us and makes us different than we were before we loved. In the devotionals on the BE-atitudes, God began to deeply challenge me about the evidence of love in my life. I’ve asked myself: What drew me to surrender to God, and am I representing these characteristics of Jesus—to others? Love is powerful and it is not based upon fear—except perhaps the fear of losing it.
We ALL desire unconditional love. And it is LOVE—not FEAR—that captures our heart and makes us passionately DESIRE God!
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”
1 John 4:18
When we examine the life of Jesus, what we see is—REAL love. What is real love? It is selflessness. It is a willingness to submit to the needs of others. Jesus showed us what love is and how we should demonstrate it.
Jesus willingly left the splendors of Heaven—to execute a daring plan to save us.
God didn’t willingly die and go through hell just to force us to love Him. He set the standard for love. Love is ALWAYS a choice. In that choice to love us—He made the first move. By His sacrifice, He loved us FIRST and thus, enabled us to learn LOVE.
“We love because HE first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
When we seek Him, our heart becomes more like His and we discover the amazing delights of knowing Him and thus, learn to live powered by love. God told Jeremiah:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
The more we seek to know and understand God, the more we experience the purest delights of His presence. He teaches us to love. His love is a more irresistible influence than even—deep wisdom, great power, or inestimable riches. His love powers us, and because God is omnipotent, His love is the most powerful force on earth! We don’t need to worry about running out of the ability to love when our love is powered by God’s presence.
God IS love and He will never run out of love because He will never run out of Himself! No one loves like HE does.
After we are born again, we are empowered with the love described in 1 Corinthians 13; that is, the kind of love which…
“suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
My friend, when the love of God flows through us, it is NOT some fleeting FEELING. Rather, it is an ACTION fueled by the love of God WITHIN us. We are NOT able to do REAL love without the REAL presence of GOD! Without God, REAL love is impossibly exhausting—in ANY relationship. But when we are IN HIM, we are consistently powered by the Holy Spirit to be…
- long-suffering and kind—giving others the benefit of the doubt even when they are ugly or exasperating;
- humbly serving each other—not rude—but rather, selfless with our time and resources;
- not easily angered towards each other;
- not judging and thinking evil of each other;
- rejoicing in the goodness of God for each other and mourning over the scourge of sin;
- willing to bear other’s burdens—even if the cost is great to us;
- willing to believe in each other to the extent we invest our time and resources without expecting anything in return;
- willing to hope for the VERY best for each other—even if it’s better than what we have; and
- willing to endure hardship for each other.
2 Responses
The power of God is the greatest force on Earth.
Yes!