Love for a Lifetime Discussion Day 2

Good Morning!

Day 2

We learned yesterday that God is love and that we cannot even begin to know how to love without Him. Today, I would like us to consider the question, “How do we demonstrate our love towards others?” Looking back, I realize that I tried to demonstrate my love to others in very selfish, self-defeating and just plain old silly ways! I went from one extreme to the other -- being a people pleaser and doing things I didn’t want to do, just to prove how much I loved someone. To it being all about me – acting in very hurtful and abusive ways to get what I wanted, because I knew the other person was trying to show me how much they loved me. I used sex, flattery and money as ways to demonstrate my love or have others prove their love for me. I Thank God, that through his Word, He is showing me how true love is really demonstrated.

1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” We can’t say in truth that we love someone, and then never demonstrate it. The Bible clearly tells us how our love should look when it is expressed to others in1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It says, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Wow, that’s a lot! But God promises us that “we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.” Philippians 4:13

What does our love look like in action? Are we even engaging others, especially those who are in relationship with us in a way that demonstrates that we truly love them? Or are we stuck in our own pain and warped views of what love is supposed to look like? Are we willing to move past what we think love looks like to what God is telling us it looks like?

Research- Read 1John 3:11-23 and 1 Corinthians 13

Relate – What are these scriptures saying to you? Are your “love actions” in line with the Word?

Respond – Choose a “love action” from 1 Corinthians 13 and demonstrate it to someone you love.

Reflect – How can you integrate more “love actions” into your life?

Discussion Question – In what ways do you believe God wants you to strengthen your “love actions”?