(yesterday’s devo)

Today’s devo focused on Joshua 23:11

Be very careful to love the LORD your God

–Joshua 23:11

Joshua said…..”be very careful” to love Him. It is an act of the will, an intentional response to who He is….

Many who set out to love God focus on theology. But theology, while important and necessary, makes God an academic subject to study or a philosophical argument to prove. It may be a product of our love for God, but it does not define love….

Many who set out to love God focus on works. But works, while an essential outgrowth of love for God, can easily become an attempt to gain His approval. In truth, they are not acts of devotion, but acts of self-interest. We want to gain higher esteem in His eyes, something that makes us one of His “insiders.” But we end up with a self-righteousness that fills us with brief satisfaction but leaves us empty of love….

Many who set out to love God focus on emotions. But emotions, thought a desirable and essential outgrowth of love, cannot define our love. They are far too fleeting. We end up riding waves of feeling or missing out on them altogether. Love remains constant. Feelings don’t….

So how do we love God? We lie at his feet and tell Him we are His. We seek to honour Him in all we do. We want to be like Him. We crave His fellowship. We pray His desires. We are consumed with, obsessed with, and filled with His ways, His works, and His will. The theology, the works, and the feelings will come. They are good–but only after the devotion. Love always comes first.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. And by no means, do I feel that this is easy btw.

At the same time, if you think about it, God’s greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God (the second being, love your neighbour). Really, if you can do that (love God with everything, in everything you do), then the rest will come. If there isn’t love for God, then it’s very difficult to (I think) live your life with genuine love.

I think anyway.