A Conscious Choice
Above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:14
All believers need to make a conscious choice to love others. Some time ago I counseled a couple who had been struggling seriously in their marriage for quite a while. I shared with them that they needed to make a conscious choice to love each other. They had to train themselves to love at times when they felt angry or taken advantage of. They needed to replace rudeness and unkind words with love.
Two days after our talk, the husband called me and said, “I just wanted to let you know that each time a problem arises, we are endeavoring to do all we can in the Spirit of God to make a conscious choice to love, make peace, and show kindness no matter what the price to our own ego might be.” Choosing to be kind to others and forgive them is a factor in learning how to love. The Holy Spirit enables you to do that when you train your mind and make a commitment to obey the Lord.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 289). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Biblical love is not just an emotion. It is an action. It is a willful, conscious act. Emotions and feelings are often influence by our circumstances and our surroundings. Therefore they can be affected and corrupted by the sinful, fallen world we live in. Our emotions can deceive us and mislead us. God calls us to "put on love". This is an action we can take regardless of how we feel. By choosing to love others, to show kindness and forgiveness even to your enemies, you honor and please God by your obedience. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Mat 5:23-24). God desires obedience above worship, especially hypocritical worship. How can you worship and show love to God if you are not loving your neighbor? "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20).
Applications: In all circumstances, in all situations, in everything, love your neighbor. Do not just wait until your "feel" like loving them, because the feeling may not come, especially if you are in conflict with someone. Instead, make "love" a conscious choice. Make it an action that you can take regardless of how you feel. If you are in conflict with someone, seek reconciliation. Humbly seek to resolve your differences, but in any case, look to minister to them and show them kindness. Love your neighbor. This is a command from God, so we must must do it no matter how we feel.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that love for my neighbor would be ingrained in my heart. Pray that I would have a heartfelt desire to love others. Pray that I would alway put obedience to God's commands above superficial worship. Pray that the Holy Spirit would teach me and empower me to love biblically in a God honoring and pleasing manner.
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Colossians 3:14
All believers need to make a conscious choice to love others. Some time ago I counseled a couple who had been struggling seriously in their marriage for quite a while. I shared with them that they needed to make a conscious choice to love each other. They had to train themselves to love at times when they felt angry or taken advantage of. They needed to replace rudeness and unkind words with love.
Two days after our talk, the husband called me and said, “I just wanted to let you know that each time a problem arises, we are endeavoring to do all we can in the Spirit of God to make a conscious choice to love, make peace, and show kindness no matter what the price to our own ego might be.” Choosing to be kind to others and forgive them is a factor in learning how to love. The Holy Spirit enables you to do that when you train your mind and make a commitment to obey the Lord.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 289). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Biblical love is not just an emotion. It is an action. It is a willful, conscious act. Emotions and feelings are often influence by our circumstances and our surroundings. Therefore they can be affected and corrupted by the sinful, fallen world we live in. Our emotions can deceive us and mislead us. God calls us to "put on love". This is an action we can take regardless of how we feel. By choosing to love others, to show kindness and forgiveness even to your enemies, you honor and please God by your obedience. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Mat 5:23-24). God desires obedience above worship, especially hypocritical worship. How can you worship and show love to God if you are not loving your neighbor? "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20).
Applications: In all circumstances, in all situations, in everything, love your neighbor. Do not just wait until your "feel" like loving them, because the feeling may not come, especially if you are in conflict with someone. Instead, make "love" a conscious choice. Make it an action that you can take regardless of how you feel. If you are in conflict with someone, seek reconciliation. Humbly seek to resolve your differences, but in any case, look to minister to them and show them kindness. Love your neighbor. This is a command from God, so we must must do it no matter how we feel.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that love for my neighbor would be ingrained in my heart. Pray that I would have a heartfelt desire to love others. Pray that I would alway put obedience to God's commands above superficial worship. Pray that the Holy Spirit would teach me and empower me to love biblically in a God honoring and pleasing manner.
Listen to this entry
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