Learning to Love

Since I was the firstborn in my family, I got all the attention from my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Then my baby sister came along, and I was no longer the center of the universe. I had a lot to learn about love. God made us with a need to be loved, and he can fill that void like nobody on Earth can. But to enjoy the fullness of his love, we must love others as he loves us, which includes even our enemies.

If I predict the future, understand mysteries, and answer all questions—with such trust in God that mountains are moved—I am nothing without love for people. — 1 Corinthians 13:2

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

1. For everything to be enjoyable, I need to recognize the Lord in all things.
2. Prayer shows how much I care, but it probably won’t convince God to give me what I want—unless it’s what he wants.
3. The more we care, the more our thoughts are captured by what we care about.
4. God is the complete definition of love, which makes love impossible to define.
5. The love of God is caring enough to sacrifice everything he has to make me, the trash, like him, the treasure.
6. Extreme ignorance is not knowing and not knowing that I don’t know.
7. A government by and for the people cannot be righteous when the people are unrighteous.
8. “Joy unspeakable” is an out-of-this-world feeling.
9. Anything I do independent from God can’t be something I should be proud of.
10. Fools know but don’t understand.

Questions for Further Thought

• How can God expect people to love their enemies?
• Are you about what our enemies think of you? Why?