Love as an Action

Love is an action- not really just a feeling. It is something we choose to do, something we learn to feel. Probably honestly the number one issue that we can have in relationships in general. There are some people that maybe we choose not to love, maybe it just seems impossible. I have heard once that some people are our Sandpaper people. They are the ones that rub our edges and get them the way that God wants them so that we are how he wants us. Boy can I say they are hard to love at times. We do however have the choice to love them even if we don't always like them.

There is a huge difference.

We are commanded to love. In the bible it says, " Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth." 1 John 3:18.

In the light of this idea of making love an action we have to practice that idea to get better at it and have success with it.

The bible also says, "Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are children of God, and that they are getting to know him better."1 John 4:7

Isn't that the truth though, you know those people that we all wish at times we could be. Always seem to do for others no matter who they are, they seem to treat people all the same, they have that glowing spirit that just beams out of them.

In regards to practicing love the bible also states, "Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all." 1 Timothy 4:15

I would say the number one area that you might see this in my own life is with my children. I will always love them but sometimes my actions may not always show that. There are times where maybe I don't put my book down and focus on what they are saying- I half listen. Especially if it is my oldest talking about a video game- oh how that conversation goes on forever sometimes. Yet it is important to him so it should be important to me. SO I want to work on this week- listening to them a little more attentively to display my love to them.

As for my husband- he loves for me to scratch his back- I despise it- but all week I have been trying to think of him more than the fact that I think it is gross, and I know that I show how much I love him through this action, because it is something he really enjoys.

So what can you do with your actions to convey your love for your family this week?

Open Your Eyes and Your Heart

In continuing with our Love Theme for this week it is important to open your eyes and your heart to see who our Father really is. Love is the Lord's Character, his essence. The Bible Says, "Love comes from God...for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
I can't think of a better quality to posses. I can't think of a better quality to share with everyone. It is so hard to do at times though, especially that unconditional love. It is easy to withhold love to someone, such as a sister or spouse, because we feel we have been wronged or maybe they did something we did not like. Where does that really get us? In the times that things are the worst I feel like we should love even more.
The bible also says that "We love because God first loved us." 1 John 4:19
How amazing to be loved by God- he is the only one that can give unconditional love. As hard as we try our love can tend to be conditional. We don't automatically love strangers. We tend to get to know people and as we become friends we love them. It doesn't just happen. For us love is a feeling not an action, yet it really should be an action. We will talk more about that tomorrow.
For today I want to leave you with one more thought. Love is a Choice- it is a commitment.
The Lord says in Deuteronomy 30:20 "Choose to love the Lord your God and commit yourself to him." To improve your relationships you have to make love a choice- a commitment.
Is there areas in your marriage, or with your children, or even with your family members where you could work on making love a choice in order to have a better relationship?
I know for me I feel I have a pretty good relationship with my children and my husband. I would say if they were asked they would agree. I would also say that I am not satisfied with where those relationships are, I can always desire to have more, especially in the area of quality. I don't think I could ever love too much.