GOD'S LOVE COMPELS US TO LOVE HIM

Loving God is important in our relationship with Him because it leads us to do things that please Him. Our love for God makes us hate sin. Our love for God makes us want to serve Him and leads us to love others. As I mentioned in our previous daily devotion, loving God is not an obligation or self-interest, but rather a natural response to the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." The word "compel" in the above verse means to be moved from within to do something with strong conviction. What the apostle Paul was saying is that there is a strong urge within him to live completely for Christ Jesus as a response to the love of Jesus Christ. It is like doing everything you can for the safety and well-being of those you love dearly. We don't force ourselves to protect those we love, but it is an instinct to do so because of our love for them.

I got saved right before my mother died at the high school where I went. When I got saved, I felt the love of God begin working in my heart. The more I came to understand God's love for me through the Bible and experienced His guidance through prayer, the more my love for Him grew. As a result, all I wanted to do was to serve Him. I wanted to live for God, not as an obligation, but as a privilege and an honor, driven by my love for Him. So, everything I do is based on my love for God and His love for me. This is why we call Christianity a relationship with God, not just a religion. If we don't have love for God that moves us to live for Him, we need to examine our hearts to see if we truly believe in Him. If we truly believe in Him, we want to get to know Him as our God. We want to spend time with Him through His Word and prayer. Our daily devotion is one of the ways we spend time with God in His Word and prayer, so let us continue with our daily devotion. 

God loves us so much, and because of that, God will always take care of us, and our response to His great love is our love for Him. The more we know God intimately, the more we will love Him. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I love God? Do I live out my love for God? How do I live out my love for God at my home, school, work, or wherever I am? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, please give me a strong love for you. I admit and confess that I often prioritize my life over loving you. Please continue to change my heart that I may love you first. Please give me the hunger to know you more through your Word, and help me to spend time with you in prayer. Thank you for loving me. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.