Is love an unstoppable force or something that we can control? Put another way, can you love “on demand” or is love at the mercy of your feelings at the moment? The culture in which we live generally holds to the latter. All the pop expressions of love, from the Top 40 charts to movies to greeting cards, seem to suggest that love between two people is an inevitable consequence of chemistry. This no doubt stems in part from a view of humans as animals. A dog, for example, does not really make a conscious choice about his loyalties; they are what they are. The animal’s loyalties certainly arise through a complex of interactions and experiences, but they are not conscious decisions.
I believe the Bible exhibits the man-nature distinction most clearly on this score: We can be commanded to love.
The Command
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NAS)
We often think of OT commands, especially in the Books of the Law, the Torah, as prohibitions, “Thou shalt not.” Eight of the “Ten Commandments” in Exodus 20 are prohibitions. “Keep the Sabbath” and “Honor thy father and mother” are the exceptions. But the command of Deuteronomy 6:5, the greatest commandment, according to the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 22:37), is a positive command. Our love is commanded both positively and negatively in the Bible. On the negative side is 1 Jn 2:15, for one. God cares about what we love. He has an opinion about where it should be directed and where it should not. And when we speak of God’s “opinion” we are discussing the realm of objective truth, for His opinion is what construes the very reality into which He created and sustains His creation.
If It Can Be Commanded…
The implication of any legitimate command is that the recipient is responsible to obey. This is the nature of superior-subordinate relationships, as common sense might suggest. Perhaps an unfair superior may command the impossible or even the unreasonable. We might suggest that such a commander thereby reveals his nature. But when we consider our Creator and His nature–Righteousness, Love, and Omniscience–we will find His commands neither impossible nor unreasonable. In fact, God Himself empowers our obedience (Phil 2:12-13, remember?).
So what?
Love is a choice. As with all commands from superior to subordinate, believers have the responsibility and faculty of choice to obey or disobey. God holds us responsible to obey His command, but He does not decide for us. Check yourself. Do you love God with all of you? If not, why not? Perhaps it is because you have not chosen to obey the command of Dt 6:5/Matt 22:37. Yes, in order to obey Him in a way that satisfies Him, it must be through the Holy Spirit’s power. But the choice remains yours to make.
Maybe this is a new thought. In such a case, your whole notion of love will require a fresh, Biblical definition. What does the Bible define as love? I would suggest that the love God commands of us towards Himself and others might most succinctly be defined as: the totally selfless desire and action of one in the best interest of another. Think on this. When applied to God, our love is obedience to His commands, just like in John 14:14-15 and 1 Jn 5:3. This correlation between loving God and obeying Him is the main reason why this collection of devotions is being written.
Two Thoughts
1. Anthropology: You can love on command. Your love is not an animal loyalty or emotional necessity. If it is true love, it is a conscious choice. This capacity with which God has created you as His image on earth is designed for you to use on Him.
2. Sanctification Priorities: The greatest commandment God has given us is to love Him. This places all other relationships in a secondary category to your relationship with God.
Passage to Pray: John 14:7-21
Memory Verse: Dt 6:4-5
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5, NAS)
davidroseland.com 
Thx David,
Perhaps another example of how we misunderstand “true” love. Someone once pointed out to me that the Bible teaches (2 Timothy 1:7,1 John 4:18 ) the opposite of Love is fear not hate.
I would imagine most people would say hate is the opposite, a reflection of our confusion/ignorance, others might even consider fear as part of the Love package…. e.g. fear of losing someone, fear of inadequacies, fear of rejection…etc. Yet the Love our Lord speaks of drives these thoughts out
Your thoughts?
J
Hey Jeff, I think insecurity is a big part of the “love” expressed in pop culture. This is true especially of romantic love. Fear is often–sadly–the basis for making commitments in romantic relationships. The insecurity approach to love is such a sham compared with the real deal. In theological terms, the doctrine of assurance is closely related to the courage we have in true love. If you’re uncertain of God’s love for you in Christ, the relationship is insecure, and that’s not the design.