TLIC FAMILY. DAY 142. MAY 22: YOU SHALL LOVE.

THINK TOGETHER

What is the most important rule in your house? What do you think God’s most important rule is?

READ TOGETHER

One time a man walked up to Jesus and asked him what he thought God’s most important rule was. Here’s Jesus answer to this important question:

Matthew 22:37-40. ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

When he was asked which of God’s rules was the most important Jesus could answer without hesitating – Love! Love God and love your neighbor. But why is loving so important? Here’s four reasons:

1. Because God is love. That means everything God does flows from love. Even when he gets angry it’s because he loves us so much and wants what is best for us.

2. Because we were made by God to love. God made us to reflect his own love when we choose to love others.

3. Because when we love others we are also loving God. When we are kind to others we are being kind to Jesus. When we help someone, it’s helping Jesus.

4. Because if we don’t practice loving others then we will become really selfish, and mean. If that happens it will be really hard for anyone to want to be your friend.

Now if we’re honest we will admit that loving others isn’t always so easy is it? So how can we love others even though it’s really hard? We can love others by always remembering that Jesus has already loved others perfectly for you, and by remembering how much Jesus loves you. How much does Jesus love you? He loves you so much that he would die on the cross for you and then change your heart so that you can love him forever.  

Because of Jesus we will always be loved by God.

With Jesus we can choose to love our neighbors (and even our enemies).

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Make John 13:34 a memory verse – love one another: just as I have loved you.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, thank you for loving God and others for me. And thank you for always loving me. Help me to love God and others too. Amen.