Love

We all desire it... we all want it... we can’t live without it... We are ALL made to LOVE!

So why is it so hard to “find” love and keep it, at least for many? Based on the high rate of divorce, the love that a couple has for one another, dare I say, “grows cold.”

I would dare to say that because so many people don’t seem to take their commitment seriously anymore.

The word “many” seems to fit perfectly with the Bible scripture that tells us: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12 — my emphasis in bold and underline)

So what do we take serious? Do we take love seriously at all?

Sure we do! There are many kinds of love. The love of our parents to us and ours for them! The love of children. But what about the most important love of all? 

From the Holy Bible, we learn that an expert of religious law, who also taught the law, asked Jesus: “What is the most important commandment of all?”

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Matthew 22:25-27, and see: Matthew 12, Luke 10)

You see, “God is love!” (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16)

And loving God is the most important love we can have — forever!

But how do we show God that we love Him? Or do we even love Him? Have we attempted to show God how much we love Him? Here’s a list of various ways we can show God that we love Him by:

 

— reading the Word of God, which is the Holy Bible

— praying to God

— spending quiet time with God

— listening to God

— praying with others and praying for others

— following God

— serving God and others

— seeking God

— going to church and having fellowship with other believers

— serving our church

— using the gifts God has talented us with for Him and ministries for Him

— volunteering to help others in various ways

— submitting to God’s will
— tithing money and donating time and things (such as clothing, food, etc.)
— comforting others
— encouraging others (or giving affirmations of God’s Word (The Bible)
— having hope and displaying it to others
— evangelizing to spread the Gospel
— loving our neighbors with God’s love
— receiving affirmations of God’s Word (The Bible)
— forgiving others
— praising God
— worshipping God
— staying on God’s path
— being obedient to God
— giving God our heart, mind, soul, spirit, and strength
— pleasing God
 

This list is not exhaustive. There are so many ways we can show God that we love Him! Why don’t you try adding to this list?

God explains His love for us:

“God demonstrated His great love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

“… The Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid, but will have boldness on the day of judgment, and we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.” (1 John 4:15-18 — my emphasis in bold)

God truly loved us first. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

The enemy (that is, satan or the devil, who is very real) has tried several times to make me doubt that God loves me. Yet, God has proven to me in so many amazing ways (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that He truly does love me.

© Photo by: Patricia Shehan

He will do this for you, too. Simply ask Him to show you, if you doubt His love for you. God will show you in many unexpected ways just how much He loves you!

I say: God, I love you! God says: I love you, too, and I loved you first!

He will say that to you, too. I pray that you will open your heart to God in love.

With my daughter, when she says: I love you! Then I'll say, I love you more! :-)

God loves us more than anyone else can possibly love us. His love is unconditional.

I pray you will open your heart today to the greatest love of all: God’s love, which is fulfilling and eternal!

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “… He [God] lavishes his unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Copyright © 2013 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics.