THE LOVE TEST
God allows us to go through things to determine how much we trust him and love him. Believing God and fully accepting his love is the power behind consistent obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” John 14:15
According to the following scripture in Deuteronomy, God allows things to happen in your life to determine the depth of your love for him. This is what he said to the children of Israel through Moses.
Deut 13:3 The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Abraham had to find out this truth for himself when God asked him to sacrifice his one and only, dearly loved son on the altar at Mount Moriah. Here’s what happened after they came to the mountain.
Then he (Abraham) reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Gen 22:10-13)
Are you going through a test? Trials afford the perfect opportunity to let the love of God in you to be made known. Keep this most important fact in your mind…You can only give away what you possess! Though we all desire to obey God, it is love for God that gives us the power. But, here is where the system breaks down. You cannot give away what you do not possess. To love God, we must first receive his love! Love is not something you try hard to do but rather something you receive. The word of God declares, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 Later in the chapter it goes on to say, “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 Love comes from God. Therefore, it is impossible to muster up his kind of love in our own strength. Obeying God is a result of receiving the love of God, not trying hard to love. Consequently, the greater the reception of the love of God, the greater the obedience! Obedience and love are kissing cousins :-)! Today is your chance to put your trust in God and find his strength as more than enough! If you’re in a trial, consider that maybe this is a great opportunity for you to hunker down into the love of God and pass…