The Love Test

"Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world..." (2 Timothy 4:10)

What a powerful reminder that we had on Sunday. The full accounting of Demas' decision was laid before us. Falling in love with the world demanded a high price. It demanded that he forsake the Son of God, the people of God, and the calling of God. All for a love of the world.

No wonder Scripture, and our pastor, sounds out the alarm: “Love not the world.”

In light of the warning we've had, how do we examine our lives this week for any love of the world that may be growing within?

Consider that the love that drew Demas away was not an emotion. The word translated

"love" refers back to the same agape love that God chooses to have towards us. It is "a discriminating affection which involves choice and selection."

In other words, love is not a feeling. Love is a choice. Our love is revealed not by what we feel, but by what we choose.

There is a great freedom in this. We may not always be in complete control of every feeling. But we are always in control of what we decide. If we don’t want to love the world, that translates to making different choices than the world would make for us.

Demas was not swept away by an irresistible emotion, but eased down a destructive path one small decision at a time.Serving God is easy when our feelings cooperate. Our love is revealed when they don't.

You may not feel like staying faithful to your Bible reading this week. Read anyway.

The prayer closet may be the last place you feel like going when your feet hit the floor.

Go anyway.

The accountability of your church family may not feel comfortable when you've struggled all week long. Show up anyway.

We are never so enslaved as when we always bow to the demands of what we feel.

Feelings will eventually follow down whatever path our choices lead them.

If we are to grow our love for Jesus, let's purpose this week in our schedules, in our priorities, in our finances, in our conversations, in our entertainment, in who we spend time with... Choose Him.