INTRODUCTION

The common thought on love is that it is an emotion felt for those for which we care. Though it is true that love is associated with emotion, love is, in reality, much deeper than emotion. It is a choice. When God commanded His people to love Him, He was not asking them to feel an emotion, but rather, to choose to care for Him. In like manner, when the Lord commanded husbands to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
See All...), He was not asking merely for an emotional attachment, but something much deeper. In fact, love is something that can be taught and learned. In Titus 2:4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
See All..., the older women are to teach the younger women to love their husbands and children. When God asks us to love, He is asking us to make a choice regardless of the feeling.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Read Luke 5:1-6 [1] And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [2] And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. [3] And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. [4] Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [5] And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [6] And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
  See All.... Peter fished all night and caught nothing. He was tired and didn't want to fish anymore. When Jesus told him to go out again, read Peter's answer (Luke 5:5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
  See All...). Peter chose to obey when he didn't feel like it. This is true love (John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  See All...).
• If love is a choice, what does that suggest about the phrase "falling in love"? How does this also show the error of statements such as, "we just don’t love each other anymore"?
• How does the fact that love is a choice change our concept of loving the Lord? How does that same fact demonstrate the greatness of God’s love for man?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to teach you how to love Him.
• Ask God to help you gain a deeper understanding of biblical love.

HYMN

Such Love

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