# 332  03/06/06   Three ways to show God we love him

Once we have established a habit with our children of recognizing how God loves us, how he wants good for us and what his personality is, we need to teach them how to show love to God.  Let us  begin by looking at how we, as adults, show God that we love him.

First, Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” John 14:21a.  We show God that we love him by our obedience to his commands.  That also implies a careful study of God’s Word so that we know the commands.

Second, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  Matthew 25:40b.  He was referring to acts of service such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing those in need and visiting prisoners.  These acts of service to others must surely touch the heart of God and let him know we love him.

Finally, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17b.  This additional way of showing God that we love him refers to being a shepherd of his people.  This is more encompassing than the acts of service mentioned in the Matthew reference.  God wants us to show our love by bringing others to him through leadership.

Each of these ways of showing love can be translated into behavior that is appropriate for different ages.  A preschooler shows that she loves Jesus love when she shares her toys.  Parents can say something like, “Jessica, Jesus said that when we do something for another person, it is like doing it for him.  I saw how you shared your toys with Katy this afternoon.  I bet Jesus was so happy!”  A simple comment is far more effective than a long discussion.

At each age, we can tell our children that we noticed ways they expressed their love of Jesus-by being obedient, by caring for others and by showing Christian leadership.  And in each instance, remember to talk to your children joyfully.  Being a child of God is reason for joy, and we need to express that truth to our children.