What exactly do you mean 'to Love God?'

Today was a little sad to say goodbye to precious child in my Sunday school class who was moving out of state.  It was most fitting then that we discussed the most important assertion about God that we should love Him.

So we discussed 1st what love is. Do you love your Mom, Dad? Why? The kids offered the usually expected answers that could be cynically summed up as "Whats in it for me?!" Nothing wrong with that as it shows awareness and awareness begets gratitude - and we know that a real good thing...but that is not love...we continued...

Recounting a fun song the children were just learning - about their Dad being their hero, I brought their attention to the last line; "I want to be a hero just like him!"  When admiration and gratitude becomes a desire to emulate and aspire THEN one is entering the realm of 'Love' where you desire that good trait enough to make a real effort to inculcate those traits into your own thoughts, actions, habits and personality.  

The much quoted line "When we are in the service of others, we are only in the service of God" actually misses the mark just a bit because God does not need servants but to those who aspire to His Godly traits He calls His children! We serve others ideally because we love the Godly traits; not to earn gold stars with God - it's just who we are. I'm sure that was the intent of the author.

Emulation of God can seem a lofty goal so we discussed the immensity of their spirit and the inherent ability to follow in Jesus' footsteps and that he was limited on earth too. See a previous essay 

44. Seriously? How can someone like me ever be anything like Him?

Then with my filled treasure chest at hand and recounting the conversation the resurrected Lord Jesus had with Peter about fish, I asked, "Lovest thou God more than these?" - pointing to the fresh baked chocolate Chip Cookies in the treasure chest and other items of universal interest.  That took a moment for a few of the ravenous young wolves to ponder on! Ha.

I leave you as I did the youngsters with these questions to ponder:

What does it mean to love something?
Is it a selfish thing?
Is it a service thing?
Is it a point of intense admiration?

Brother Steve