The motive for loving is God Himself

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (in On Loving God, chapter 7 excerpts) said it well:

"The motive for loving God is God Himself.

For He is both the efficient cause as well as the final object...

He gives the occasion for love, He creates the affection.

He brings the desire...

Our present love would be vain did we not hope to love Him perfectly some day.

Our love is prepared and rewarded by His..."

[as quoted in To Live Is Christ, p. 98]

How can this inspire you to greater love today?

Choose Love

Everyday you can choose love or you can choose to be angry. Or, you can choose your pride over any love. You can also choose to fight instead of to demonstrate love. The choices are endless each day, for all the things you can do instead of love. Everyday, every circumstance gives you an opportunity to choose. Choose this day whom you will serve as Joshua challenged us (24:15).

Choose LOVE!

Do You See God in Others?

"If we do not see God in each other, it is very difficult to love." [Mother Teresa, page 292, The Joy in Loving]

When you look at people as creations of God, it changes your perspective of people.

Know they are made in their creators image. Genesis 9:6 says "for in the image of God has God made man." Psalm 100:3 says, "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people..." Acts 17:29 says "we are God's offspring." Romans 8:16 says "we are God's children." I Corinthians 3:9 says, "we are God's fellow workers." Ephesians 2:10 says "we are God's workmanship."

So be advised, as C.S. Lewis told us, "There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal."

[The Weight of Glory, p. 46]

Your Perspective Effects Your Love

"Love is a matter of how you view life." That's what Nancy Farrier said as quoted in Love is a Verb, page 189. Gary Chapman, the author of this book, took a different view of it. He said, "Love is a perspective." (page 190)

How you view life matters.

Everything you do matters. There is nothing insignificant. Because when you understand you live before God, everything matters.

What is your perspective on life? Is it how much you can get? Is it how important your job is? Is it just to get through the day? How you see life, from your perspective matters, so try to get it right. Make love your perspective today. Look at life through the eyes of love.

Love Teaches

"Love teaches others how to love." (Nancy Farrier, in Love is a Verb, by Gary Chapman, page 190)

What are you teaching those around you?

Are you teaching others to love, or to complain, or to roll their eyes, or to stomp off in silence?

We teach others everyday by how we live, how we react, and how we act.

Today, consider your actions and words and how they teach others how to love.

Does Love Spill Out of You?

"I believe true love begins when the secret longings of our heart spills out into our lives." (page 192, Love is a Verb, quoting Jennifer Devlin)

What is spilling into your life?

What is spilling out of your life?

Matthew 12:34 says, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

Romans 5:15 says God's grace overflowed to us through Jesus Christ.

Paul prayed we would overflow with hope in Romans 15:13, with thanksgiving in II Corinthians 4:15, and with joy in Philippians 1:26.

Let's just hope and pray, that love will overflow from us.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other...

I Thessalonians 3:12

"Owning" Your Love

How will you "own" your love today?

How will you take responsibility for those you are in a position to love?

To 'own' something, we need to claim it and take responsibility for it.

We have to pay the necessary price to 'own' it.

We're responsible to shelter it, care for it, and provide for it's needs.

How are you doing that with your love relationships?

Could you do a better 'job'?

How are you not providing for it's well being?

Take responsibility for loving today by owning up to it: "I love them."