GOD's Perfect Woman "A Woman of Love"

	Proverbs 31:28,29 "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."."
	The English word "LOVE" has to be one of the most unusual words in our language. It's supposedly packed with meaning, yet it seems inadequate when we really want to say something. The word really is overworked. Let's look at five different aspects of love that pertain to marriage. STRONG PHYSICAL DESIRE - A strong desire of any kind, sometimes good, sometimes bad. It means to set the heart on; long for, rightfully or otherwise; or it can mean to covet. When used in the Bible in a negative way, it is called lust. When used in a productive way it is called desire and this is the meaning we are referring to. In marriage, husband and wife should have a strong physical desire for each other that expresses itself in pleasurable sexual lovemaking. Sex is not the most important aspect of your relationship, but is an indicator of the health of your marriage. ROMANTIC YEARNING - This love conveys the idea of romance. It is not always sensual. It is romantic, passionate, and sentimental. It is often the starting point for marriage. The big problem with this kind of love is that it is changeable and cannot last a lifetime all by itself. COMFORTABLE BELONGING - This would be a type of love that is comprised of natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other. This love in marriage meets the need we all have to belong. TENDER SHARING - This is a love of relationship, comradeship, sharing, communication, and friendship. This love makes friends who enjoy closeness and companionship. Love that shares thoughts, feelings, attitudes, plans and dreams - intimate things they would express to no one else. A marriage without this love will be unsatisfactory, but with it will be interesting and rewarding. UNSELFISH GIVING - This is the totally unselfish love that has the capacity to give and keep on giving without expecting in return. This love serves. The previous loves all have enjoyment where in contrast, this love caused Christ to come to earth, as a man, on our behalf. God loves all mankind with this love. It is often referred to as Agape Love. This aspect of love can be used to save a marriage that has lost its love. This is the only love that you can bring into your marriage immediately, because it is exercised as a choice of your will and has no dependence on feelings. It is love in action, not emotion. It centers on what you do and say rather than how you feel. If your marriage possess this kind of love, it can survive anything. This kind of love is so important and works because it comes from an eternal source of God alone. It can go on operating when every other kind of love fails. Not only that, it loves no matter what. No matter how unlovable the other person may be, this love keeps on flowing.

	1 Corinthians 13 The kind of love describe here won't puff you up. It is a love of action. It doesn't seek her own and isn't easily provoked. It doesn't think evil. It doesn't rejoice when someone else does wrong. It does rejoice in the truth. Charity never fails. Faith, hope and charity abides, but the greatest of these is charity. LOVE IS slow to suspect....quick to trust slow to condemn....quick to justify slow to offend....quick to defend slow to reprimand....quick to forbear slow to belittle....quick to appreciate slow to demand....quick to give slow to hinder....quick to help slow to resent....quick to forgive Love can be expressed in kindness to others. It shows who we are. If we only have nice things to do and say for people from whom we want something, our love is selfish and we will become known for it. If we love because we love the Lord and want to love others as He would have us to do, we would be happier and others around us would be too. GOD WANTS US TO LOVE: OURSELVES - Don't criticize yourself. We are God's creation and workmanship. Who are we to belittle what God has so wonderfully made. THE FAMILY CIRCLE - Your husband needs kind words from you. They mean more to him coming from you than anyone else. When he fails, be kind. Children need kind consideration and love everyday too. Always be kind to family members at home and in front of people. Never embarrass or belittle them in front of others. REGULAR CONTACTS - Teachers, friends, co-workers, our pastor and others we associate with often could use notes of thanks and expressions of appreciation. STRANGERS - If someone needs help, help them. Use wisdom. Some people are just waiting for a kind word from someone. Why shouldn't we as children of the King reach out in this way. It could lead to a soul getting saved. UNLOVABLE PEOPLE - Unkind, unfriendly, or unusual people can sometimes be changed around completely because you show them some love. When someone does wrong to us, don’t sit around waiting for an apology. Be kind to them and show them love. Forgive them.

	Love for God will be demonstrated by the place His commandments occupy in the Christian's life. It is necessary to study the Bible to learn what God's commandments are. John 14:15 says that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. The Proverbs lady is a pattern to follow in learning to show love and to accept love from others. Her testimony to her family and friends is that she excels. Look for ways to honestly compliment people around you. Ask God to develop a more loving attitude in your heart for family and friends. Work on developing the Christian virtues in II Peter 1: 5-7. Send a note of encouragement to a family member, elderly saint, or your pastor.

	Pages in the study of GOD's PERFECT WOMAN [ Woman of Virtue | Woman of Trust | Woman of Energy ] [ Woman of Beauty | Woman of Stewardship | Woman of Service ] [ Woman of Preparedness | Woman of Prudence | Woman of Love ] [ Woman of Praise ]   Return to Bible Studies or Cathy's World Index   © 2001 - Cathy