Chosen Love

Chosen Love…

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” In the tale, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevia echoes this to his wife after 25 years of an arranged marriage, “Do you love me?” She eventually says, “Yes, I suppose I do.”

Marriages back then were not like today. They were arranged by the parents. There was no romance, infatuation, or head-over-heels emotion. They were just told this is the one. For most of human history, those marriages survived more than marriages of modern times because they were based on commitment.

When you base love on feeling, love becomes fleeting because feelings come and go. You don’t always feel like loving, you choose to. If you are married, it doesn’t matter whether you feel love or not- you have a commitment, a covenant. Love them because you choose to love.

God doesn’t just love you when He feels like it, He made a covenant with you, and it’s an arranged marriage. We’re never commanded to ‘feel’ like loving God. We’re commanded to love Him regardless, with our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Why? Because that’s just what love is.

For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

Today, practice voluntary love, conscious chosen love. Make the choice to choose to love those you are to love, especially your loved ones.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed