Love Is?Намуна

Day 3 – Love (Agape) Is a Choice

I used to think that love was a feeling. And it is, but it's not complete. It makes perfect sense to us that when we love, we feel. Have you ever thought about what happens to love when there is no feeling, or the feeling isn't a good feeling? Where is the love then? It is at this point that love becomes more than just a feeling; it becomes a choice. Love is a choice. 

I have yet to find any Kingdom concept that instructs believers to operate by our feelings. In fact, we are instructed not to operate by how we feel or what we see. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean to your own understanding." We are told to do the opposite of relying on our feelings. Our understanding has a limited viewpoint. This is why we are told not to trust it. Likewise, our feelings change from day to day and moment to moment. Feelings can't be trusted and are never a good barometer for love. Agape is not based in a feeling; it is based in a choice. 

We can't love our neighbors as ourselves based upon a feeling. It has to be a choice. We can't treat others kindly when they've "done us wrong" based upon our feelings. We must choose to overlook the wrong done and trust God. We can't continue to love our spouses, children, family, or friends when we've been hurt by them. Love is choice driven and not feeling driven.

By the way, we've been commanded to love, not like. We often confuse liking someone with loving someone. Did you know that it is possible to love someone, but not like them? It's good to like everybody, but the truth is that you won't, you don't have to, and that's okay. But you do have to love everybody, even the ones you don't like. In these instances, the only option you have as a believer is to choose love.

The next time your love walk is challenged, remember to be intentional. Ignore your feelings and choose love.