In Sunday school, we just completed a series on “How to Strengthen your Faith” and only two weeks ago, I started a series on the love of God. You know – God’s love for us, the Great Commandment, loving each other, etc. I had no idea the complexity of the topic until I started researching it.
My first lesson was real basic: “Where Does Love Begin?” That one was easy. Without God, there would be no love. (I John 4:19) And they that do not know God, can’t possibly know or understand love, even though they think they do. (I John 4:8) The following week my lesson was on Proverbs 8:17 , which says, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” In other words, God loves those who love Him. Now I had a problem. The Bible is very clear that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for them. Yet, when Jesus died for the world, they didn’t love Him. They hated Him. That includes everyone. But in Proverbs 8:17. God says, “I love them that love me…” How could God love the world so much He died for it and yet God only loves those who love Him? Before I could teach it, I had to understand it. So
I spent a lot of time in prayer on that lesson.
My next lesson is on the Great Commandment, which I have found to be just as difficult. In Luke 10:27, Jesus said, “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind…” It’s easy to teach this as fact and move on. This is what God says; now go and do likewise. The hard part is understanding how to implement it.
- Why is it important to love God so completely?
- What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength?
- How do we display this love toward God?
And how can I teach this lesson until I truly understand it? I can’t. I’ve spent much time in prayer and preparation for this lesson, as well, because this lesson needs to come from a heart of understanding and a desire to obey. I need God to teach me so I have something to teach the class. My Sunday school class must feel the heart of God as I present these lessons or they’ll only leave Sunday school with a head full of facts. I want them to experience God’s heart full of love.