All We Need Is Love
- April Ross
- May 10
- 4 min read
“Other than following Jesus, What is the most important thing we can teach, or do for, our children?”
“Jesus replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
I was recently asked this question:
Other than following Jesus, what is the most important thing we can teach, or do for, our children?
As I sat in thought on this question, I had many ideas. I thought it could be teaching them their basic manners, or showing respect to those in authority, or even having a good work ethic. And all those things are important, but if we look closely we can see that all of those start with love. Jesus knew all we needed was love way before The Beatles sang about it.
Love goes behind everything we do like a quiet stream flowing through our hearts each day. The more love in our hearts, the more love we can give to our family, friends, jobs, government, hobbies, and the list goes on. The love of Jesus will flow out of you like a river the more you get to know Him.
Teaching kids to love like Jesus may seem hard but the best guide for them is Y-O-U. They look to us to see how we react in all situations. When we’re driving and someone cuts us off, when we’re at the store and the lines are long, when a friend lets us down, or when we are facing a problem that seems too big handle on our own. Our kids are watching, listening, and waiting to see our reactions. When we love Jesus with all our heart, soul, and mind, showing love to others comes more readily. We can stop and think before we react to the driver in front of us. When the store lines are long, we can smile and speak kindly to the workers. We can call that friend and have a heartfelt conversation. And when problems seem gigantic, we can fall on our knees in prayer. Our kids need to see our love in action.
Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” So be the example of love for your children. Show them the way to live and love by being Christlike in your daily life. The Holy Spirit will help in weaknesses and give us the opportunity to grow in love each day.
Today, reflect on the command Jesus gave us. How can we love more like Christ loves us?
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Tuesday:
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
Talk to your kids about this verse and what they understand about love through these words.
Say this prayer for your life and with your kids: Jesus, help me to love others as you have loved me. Teach me to serve, forgive, and extend grace with a heart that reflects your love. Amen
Wednesday:
Look for opportunities to show love to others around you. Maybe there’s someone you need to forgive, or someone who you struggle to be around. Bring them up in your prayers, asking Jesus to help you heal and help you move in the right direction.
Say this prayer for your life and with your kids: Jesus, help me to love others as you have loved me. Teach me to serve, forgive, and extend grace with a heart that reflects your love. Amen
Thursday:
Check out this Love like Jesus video for kids on YouTube! It’s got a great lesson and activities to help teach your kiddos(and you) about loving like Jesus.
Say this prayer for your life and with your kids: Jesus, help me to love others as you have loved me. Teach me to serve, forgive, and extend grace with a heart that reflects your love. Amen
Written by April Ross,mom of three, trying to teach them how to love like Jesus
