Rules: An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct; Regulations observed by players in a game, sport, or contest. A set of explicit or understood set of regulations or principles governing conduct, actions, and procedures within a particular activity or sphere.
Love: A profoundly tender, warm, deep, personal affection towards another. A selfless act expecting nothing in return.
Is your walk with God love-based or rule-based? While reading a book, Culture of Honor, I was asked this question. I began to think and pray about my response and it has been an amazing opportunity for me to grow in my walk with the Lord, so I wanted to share.
All over the bible God commands us to LOVE:
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Mark 12:28-30 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Deuteronomy 6:5-6 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
John 14:21-24 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
So, I am a person who likes rules. I enjoy knowing and following the rules that I am given. I have realized that often times I obey God’s commandments because He tells me to; and not because my heart is in the right place and acting out of love and thankfulness towards Him. Which I am pretty positive is not what God had in mind when He told me to obey Him.
Example: There is a married couple. The husband chooses not to have an affair because it is one of the “rules” of marriage. Instead of choosing not to because of the LOVE that he has for his wife…
There is a HUGE difference between acting on behalf of the rules and acting out of LOVE.
I want to obey God because of my LOVE for Him; not because I have to. When presented with an opportunity to sin I want to choose God because I know how it will affect His heart if I don’t. (Not because I am afraid of the consequences/ punishments of my actions for choosing to sin.)
Here is my question for you : Are you obeying God out of “Have to” or are you obeying Him as an act of LOVE?
Pray about it. Think about it. And if you discover that you are only obeying Him because He says to, then ask Him to help you to be obedient out of your love for Him. He will not disappoint.
I looked up some words that describe love just for fun… here they are:
Affection, Amazing, Bliss, Cherishing, Dreamy, Eternal, Everlasting, Forever, Joyous, Strength, Bonding, Faith, Imperfect, Perfect, Grand, Miraculous, Perplexing, Mysterious, Monumental, Consuming, Freeing, Nonjudgmental, Far-reaching, Indefinable, Divine, Glorious, Painful, Painless, Limitless, Ecstasy, Agony, Empowering, Boundless, Fabulous, Fantastic, Weakening, Surprising, Uplifting, Emotional, Deep, Invigorating, Challenging, Fulfilling, Exhausting, Relaxing, Respectful, Rehabilitative, Meaningful, Melodious, Symphonic, Melancholy, Unexplainable, Delightful, Delicious, Delectable, Delirious, Extraordinary, Honest, Hope, Heroic, Haunting, Illogical, Lyrical, Lustful, Moving, Nourishing, Obsession, Passionate, Powerful, Unmeasurable, Infinite, Irrational, Restorative, Sensual, Sensitive, Sentimental, Stirring, Sanguine, Trusting, Voracious, Enveloping, Unity, Rhapsodic, Yearning, Tenderness, Cherishing, Devotion, Rapturous
