Need Love?

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Well, it's the week of Luuuvvv (deep voice).  Because I'm married, I should put some thought into Valentine's plans.  But with three young girls, Valentine's on Thurs. night, and a busy week as usual, we may have to celebrate another night.  (Actually day time may be better since I turn into a pumpkin at 10:00 p.m.).  I do need to buy him a card, though (and write in it how sweet he is).

For some people, Valentine's week is hard.  Maybe they have recently lost a life long mate, or a child that they can't say "I love you" to anymore.  Or, their "happily ever after" marriage dream ended too suddenly.  Some remain single, giving up on the love of a mate.

For others, difficult relationships bring disappointment and a disillusionment about others.  People disappoint.  Some even hurt others in different ways.  As a result, sometimes people have a hard time trusting others.  Sadly, for protection, they may not allow other people to get close enough to love them, in fear they will be disappointed or hurt again.  They may think, "And forget loving others, its too painful when others may not love me back as I expect". 

Sadly, when people have been hurt by others, they may think God loves them in same way (not much).  They may feel unlovable.  They may think they don't deserve God's love, which is true.  No one deserves it, God's love is a gift.  Yet , they may try to act lovable, working to gain God's approval.  When someone can't accept God's love for themselves, they will have a hard time loving others. 

The opposite is true.  When people realize what a consuming love God has for them and accept His love, they can begin to love others in return. 

Want to love?  Maybe love again?

Allow God's perfect Love change your heart.     

HOW?

Acknowledge God's Love 

God IS love (His very nature).  I John 4:8 says, " The one who does not love does not know         God, for God is love."

Accept God's Love  John 3:16   “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (NLT)

After you accept God's love, you can then...

Abide in God's Love  John 15:9  says, (Jesus speaking) "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love".

Remain in God's love.  How?  Obedience.  John 15:10 says, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love."

Obey what?

"LOVE ONE ANOTHER"

Obey by action.

Act in God's Love   John 15:12 says, (Jesus speaking) “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (emphasis mine)

Why did God have to command it?

Besides He knows what is best for us, He must command it because it is difficult. I've never demanded my children to eat their dessert. I don't have to because it's too easy.  I do, however, have to demand they eat their veggies before they get dessert. Why? Because sometimes they, "just don't like them," or they "just don't want to," Or, my favorite, they "just don't feel like it." Sounds like my excuses not to love sometimes.  {Aren't you glad Jesus didn't love only when He felt like it.  I think of the time right before His death when He told the Father 'he didn't feel like it' (different words, of course)}  And sometimes we don't want to love because we feel the person doesn't deserve our love.

How should we love?  "Just as I have loved you."  (John 15:12 again)

How did Jesus love you and me? (How he wants us to love others)

He loved us when we didn't deserve it.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (emphasis mine)

He loved me without demanding me to love Him in return.

I John 4:10 says, "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (NLT)  He loved us first!

Oh, and by the way, He loved us by dying.  John 15:13 (Jesus says), "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  (Foretelling His death)

Ask for God's love to love others

John 15:16- 17 (Jesus speaking) says, "¹⁶ You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. ¹⁷ This I command you, that you love one another. (emphasis mine)

And finally,

Approach the day of judgment with confidence in God's Love

I John 4:15-17  ¹⁵ All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. (NLT)

God wants you to allow Him to love you.  In turn, You love others.  Where are you in the process?