The Opposite of Love
The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is ignoring someone or forgetting about them. The same is true in our relationship with God. We are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and strength.(Deuteronomy 6:4,5) However, when we forget about Him and fail to do what He says because we are apathetic, we are not loving Him, no matter what we say. Let me explain.
Remember, love is not a feeling. If we say we love God, because we do not hate Him, and we want to love Him, that may not be true. Love is a decision to put the other person first. Therefore, to love God, we must not forget the Lord and His commands, as Moses says in these chapters, over and over. We must have Him in the front of our minds and hearts all the time, so that we use our strength to do whatever He says to us. That is love, and only that is love. To say that we love Him and forget Him is impossible.
What would you think if your spouse or a very good friend said they loved you, but they never talked to you, and they never did anything you asked them to do? Then, when you contacted them, they said they just forgot, but they really did love you. Is that real love? I don't think so. I think we are fooling ourselves, if we think that is love. Love pays attention. Love strives to please. Love never stops being focused on the object of our love.
Let's set our hearts to love the Lord and to never forget Him. Let's set our hearts to do whatever He says in His Word, because we want to please Him. Let's not allow anything to be more important to us than Him, because we love Him. Oh yeah, and let's do all of this because the Lord of all of the universe loved us first, and He gave His life for us, because of His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 9-11.
Remember, love is not a feeling. If we say we love God, because we do not hate Him, and we want to love Him, that may not be true. Love is a decision to put the other person first. Therefore, to love God, we must not forget the Lord and His commands, as Moses says in these chapters, over and over. We must have Him in the front of our minds and hearts all the time, so that we use our strength to do whatever He says to us. That is love, and only that is love. To say that we love Him and forget Him is impossible.
What would you think if your spouse or a very good friend said they loved you, but they never talked to you, and they never did anything you asked them to do? Then, when you contacted them, they said they just forgot, but they really did love you. Is that real love? I don't think so. I think we are fooling ourselves, if we think that is love. Love pays attention. Love strives to please. Love never stops being focused on the object of our love.
Let's set our hearts to love the Lord and to never forget Him. Let's set our hearts to do whatever He says in His Word, because we want to please Him. Let's not allow anything to be more important to us than Him, because we love Him. Oh yeah, and let's do all of this because the Lord of all of the universe loved us first, and He gave His life for us, because of His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 9-11.