One more comment! Jumping a back a little bit, Richard, Eph. 5:21 does say, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Does that put loving in the category of obedience to each other?

When we love Jesus as we should, and put our will and life under his care, love of self and self seeking will begin to slip away. We will begin to care for others in a way that heretofor seemed impossible. It is not something we can generate on our own, but it will happen if we allow ourselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

I don't believe that loving one another is done through obeying each other We love each other because God showed us how much he loved us, by allowing is son to die for us. We love each other because we want to not because we have to. We obey God because we love. So maybe in away we are obeying? But I would say that that obeying is to show God that we love him. Not exactly sure what you mean by obeying, but this is how I see it. Hope you are having a wonderful Sabbath Contented.

pk

I would love to have this discussion in a group! (So it didn't take so long to interact.) I appreciate all the comments! I have another question, How, sepcifically, do you love what you don't like? It's pretty easy to help those who need help if you can, (but what if they take advantage of you, or becomes utterly dependant?) and it's not difficult to help a student who needs help with finances, (but what if they won't help themselves, or waste the funds?) What if someone has destroyed your reputation without cause, or ruined all your dreams for something? How do you manifest love for and/or toward those people? Do you keep on giving? Do you keep on 'letting', or should love take on a different dmeanor? You know, - stop 'turning the other cheek', or giving your coat also? Or would that mean you are no longer 'loving'?

I've taught children for a long time, and I'm certain that 'loving' and/or 'letting' can really create 'learned helplessness'. Expectations from someone can become immense, and still they don't feel 'loved'. Often that person never learns to return the favor either to you or to other people. They, themselves, become incapable of 'loving'.

What I think the question still is; What does loving one another really mean in reality? And how do you do it? I'm sure I don't have all the answers, and there are situations when I would much rather withdraw than deal with it, but silence yields it's own distress for you and for others.

What's your ideas?

This is very difficult. People can be so unloving. But if we have experienced God's love for you when you are SO undeserving .... then you would only wish for the same to happen for all of God's children.

Not saying that I have accomplished this yet. But this is what I try to put foremost in my mind. I hope it helps you.

I really like the memory text this week. But, I am afraid that this is one commandment I won't be keeping as I should. The lesson defined love as the willingness to do as Christ did and to die for a stranger. I'm afraid I lack that kind of love. Oh don't get me wrong. I believe that Christ is able to give it to us. But I don't see anyone with it walking around. I see a lot of the opposite unfortunately.

Yes Redwood and in the Christian Church more than anywhere it seems sometimes. Its strange because if your in the military and you in a war zone, and you don't really know the guy next to you, but you are willing to die for that person. Not necessarily because you love that person.

pk

Yes. I assume that military training instills that. If only we as Christians could be instilled with it in peace time experiences.

Yeah I know what you mean. The funny thing is, doesn't Paul speak about that, saying that we are at war and to put the full garmet of the Lord on?

pk

Cool thought. That is the attitude that we need to have.