After two months of dating, it’s too soon to tell if a relationship will develop into a marriage commitment. Many other factors come into play over the next months and years, particularly God’s leading in your college and career decisions. But you can turn a corner in the relationship by accepting the challenge to protect and provide for the other person as long as you are together. This is a no-lose situation for both of you. If you end up getting married in the future, you will begin your life together on the solid foundation of protecting and providing for each other, which is God’s kind of love. If you should eventually go your separate ways, you can part with no regrets, having contributed to each other’s health, happiness and spiritual growth.
You may not be certain about the future with your special friend but the prospects for your relationship will be bright and positive if you focus on the true love of protecting and providing for one another.
Showing posts with label romantic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romantic. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Conscious Decision
God's definition of true love is to protect and provide for another person. This means consciously making the other person's happiness, health and spiritual growth as important to you as your own. The following guidelines will help you integrate this definition into your experience with that special person in your life:
• Put Jesus Christ first in your relationship.
• Be open and honest with each other.
• Accept each other completely, including faults and failures.
• Seek your parents’ approval for your relationship.
• Avoid any setting or activity that may tempt you to compromise your commitment to sexual purity.
• Handle disagreements quickly and lovingly.
• Emphasize the “friend” in boyfriend and girlfriend.
• Put Jesus Christ first in your relationship.
• Be open and honest with each other.
• Accept each other completely, including faults and failures.
• Seek your parents’ approval for your relationship.
• Avoid any setting or activity that may tempt you to compromise your commitment to sexual purity.
• Handle disagreements quickly and lovingly.
• Emphasize the “friend” in boyfriend and girlfriend.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Encouraging or Discouraging
True love will not insist on an “exclusive” friendship. Some students become very possessive of a boyfriend or girlfriend’s time and attention. It may seem flattering at first, but it is rooted in distrust and insecurity. Instead of protecting and providing for the other person, this approach restricts and stifles a person’s happiness, health and spiritual growth. True love encourages healthy interaction with others.
True love will not do anything to damage the happiness, health and spiritual growth of another person. So how do you know when you have found true love? You know love is real when you make the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of your boyfriend or girlfriend as important to you as your own. That’s what it means to protect and provide for someone you love.
True love will not do anything to damage the happiness, health and spiritual growth of another person. So how do you know when you have found true love? You know love is real when you make the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of your boyfriend or girlfriend as important to you as your own. That’s what it means to protect and provide for someone you love.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Don't Take Advantage or Pressure
True love does not take advantage of another person. Using someone in a “love” relationship for your own emotional, physical, or sexual gratification violates love’s guideline of protecting and providing. Taking for your own pleasure does not contribute to the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of another person.
True love will not pressure another person into having sex. There is tremendous pressure in our culture for students to become sexually active, even in casual dating relationships. Today’s movies, music, and media treat premarital sex as normal and expected. But sex outside God’s plan for intimacy in marriage most likely will leave mental, emotional, and spiritual scars. True love protects a person from such guilt and pain, and it provides for a secure, nurturing relationship by saying no to premarital sex.
True love will not pressure another person into having sex. There is tremendous pressure in our culture for students to become sexually active, even in casual dating relationships. Today’s movies, music, and media treat premarital sex as normal and expected. But sex outside God’s plan for intimacy in marriage most likely will leave mental, emotional, and spiritual scars. True love protects a person from such guilt and pain, and it provides for a secure, nurturing relationship by saying no to premarital sex.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Love Is … Support and Encouragement
True love meets the need for support. You provide support when you attempt to lighten your friend’s load in practical, helpful ways. Acts of support fulfill Paul’s instruction in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Look for opportunities to perform a number of helpful tasks that will help ease their burden. You express biblical love to your special friend whenever you serve him or her in practical, helpful ways.
Everybody needs encouragement in life, and true love looks for ways to meet that need. We encourage others whenever we do or say something thoughtful to lift their spirits. For example, sending a special card with encouraging words is a simple way of expressing encouragement. You can supply encouragement to others in many practical ways, such as notes, emails, or phone calls. Encouragement is communicated when you focus your words and attention on your special friend and any struggles he or she is going through.
Everybody needs encouragement in life, and true love looks for ways to meet that need. We encourage others whenever we do or say something thoughtful to lift their spirits. For example, sending a special card with encouraging words is a simple way of expressing encouragement. You can supply encouragement to others in many practical ways, such as notes, emails, or phone calls. Encouragement is communicated when you focus your words and attention on your special friend and any struggles he or she is going through.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
True Love Is … Comfort
What does true love look like in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship? It has the same basic elements as love expressed in any other relationship, though the elements of affection and time commitment may be greater in this special relationship. Here are a few examples:
True love seeks to meet needs for comfort. Everybody needs comfort, support, and encouragement, especially during the inevitable times of pain and discouragement in life. Comfort is not a “pep talk” urging another person to hang in there, tough it out, or hold it together. Comfort is not an attempt to explain why bad things happen to people. Comfort is not a bunch of positive words about God being in control and everything being okay. All of these things may be good and useful in time, but they do not fill the primary need for comfort.
People receive comfort when we feel their hurt and sorrow with them, so they
know they are not suffering alone. Paul instructed us. “Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Try offering a gentle touch, a tender embrace, or providing a shoulder to cry on. When your special friend is hurting for some reason, share words like, “I know it hurts,” or “I really hurt for you.” Save your words of advice or admonitions from Scripture for a time after you have shared your friend’s feelings. That’s biblical comfort. To be continued.
True love seeks to meet needs for comfort. Everybody needs comfort, support, and encouragement, especially during the inevitable times of pain and discouragement in life. Comfort is not a “pep talk” urging another person to hang in there, tough it out, or hold it together. Comfort is not an attempt to explain why bad things happen to people. Comfort is not a bunch of positive words about God being in control and everything being okay. All of these things may be good and useful in time, but they do not fill the primary need for comfort.
People receive comfort when we feel their hurt and sorrow with them, so they
know they are not suffering alone. Paul instructed us. “Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Try offering a gentle touch, a tender embrace, or providing a shoulder to cry on. When your special friend is hurting for some reason, share words like, “I know it hurts,” or “I really hurt for you.” Save your words of advice or admonitions from Scripture for a time after you have shared your friend’s feelings. That’s biblical comfort. To be continued.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Stay Focused on God's Love
A simple definition of true love is: to protect and to provide for another person. If you are learning how to protect and to provide for anyone, it should be the one to whom you are most deeply attracted. Like many others, the relationship may have begun by focusing on infatuation, romantic attachment or even sex. You may have recognized large doses of “I love you if …” or “I love you because …” in the way you treat one another. Conditional love rarely protects or provides for another.
If you want the relationship to grow and succeed in God’s terms, focus on applying God’s definition of love: “I love you, period!” This unconditional love seeks to protect and provide for the other person. Consciously make your friend’s happiness, health, and spiritual growth as important to you as your own. If you are in a romantic relationship, you will know it is true love when your heart’s desire is to protect and provide for the object of your affection.
The difficult events in life can be sobering and can challenge people to reevaluate their relationship. Seek out your spiritual mentors and ask them to help guide you in trying times.
If you want the relationship to grow and succeed in God’s terms, focus on applying God’s definition of love: “I love you, period!” This unconditional love seeks to protect and provide for the other person. Consciously make your friend’s happiness, health, and spiritual growth as important to you as your own. If you are in a romantic relationship, you will know it is true love when your heart’s desire is to protect and provide for the object of your affection.
The difficult events in life can be sobering and can challenge people to reevaluate their relationship. Seek out your spiritual mentors and ask them to help guide you in trying times.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
To Protect and Provide
Here is one of the simplest definitions for true love you will ever find: to protect and to provide for another person. It reflects God’s picture of love in the Bible. And the supreme example is Jesus Christ’s love for the church. He is alive today, protecting and providing for us.
What does true love look like in a dating relationship? You will speak and act in ways that protect and provide for your boyfriend or girlfriend. For example, you will drive carefully instead of recklessly, because you want to protect your date from an accident. You will provide activities that will be personally enriching and enjoyable for your date, instead of those of questionable value. And you will not pressure your date to meet your sexual desires, but instead protect him or her from the pain of moral compromise.
As you can see, true love from God’s perspective is much more than an attraction to or warm feelings about someone special. True love is a decision, an action, a response to care for others as you do yourself. Protecting and providing for others is an act of the will regardless of our feelings. This is how we are to love everyone: family members, friends, classmates, neighbors, even strangers. We should be constantly seeking the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of others, beginning with those closest to us – family members and close friends – and working out to people we don’t even know, such as people around the world who benefit from our charitable giving.
What does true love look like in a dating relationship? You will speak and act in ways that protect and provide for your boyfriend or girlfriend. For example, you will drive carefully instead of recklessly, because you want to protect your date from an accident. You will provide activities that will be personally enriching and enjoyable for your date, instead of those of questionable value. And you will not pressure your date to meet your sexual desires, but instead protect him or her from the pain of moral compromise.
As you can see, true love from God’s perspective is much more than an attraction to or warm feelings about someone special. True love is a decision, an action, a response to care for others as you do yourself. Protecting and providing for others is an act of the will regardless of our feelings. This is how we are to love everyone: family members, friends, classmates, neighbors, even strangers. We should be constantly seeking the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of others, beginning with those closest to us – family members and close friends – and working out to people we don’t even know, such as people around the world who benefit from our charitable giving.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Nourish and Cherish
True, unconditional love is evident when the happiness, health, and spiritual growth of
another person are as important to you as your own. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church” (Ephesians 5:29 NASB). It is not selfish or self-centered to nourish and cherish our own bodies; it is a natural, healthy love of self. True love means to nourish and cherish another just as we naturally do for ourselves.
To nourish means to nurture toward growth and maturity. For example, to nurture a plant or flower in your garden, you provide all the sun, water, and plant food it needs to grow tall and become fruitful. In a similar way, nurturing that special someone in your life means to provide for his or her growth and maturity by meeting needs, just as you make sure your own needs are met.
To cherish means to protect from harm. Picture a mother bird spreading her wings over her babies to shield them from bad weather or danger. Cherishing your special friend means protecting him or her from all harm, just as you take precautions to protect yourself from dangers of any kind.
another person are as important to you as your own. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church” (Ephesians 5:29 NASB). It is not selfish or self-centered to nourish and cherish our own bodies; it is a natural, healthy love of self. True love means to nourish and cherish another just as we naturally do for ourselves.
To nourish means to nurture toward growth and maturity. For example, to nurture a plant or flower in your garden, you provide all the sun, water, and plant food it needs to grow tall and become fruitful. In a similar way, nurturing that special someone in your life means to provide for his or her growth and maturity by meeting needs, just as you make sure your own needs are met.
To cherish means to protect from harm. Picture a mother bird spreading her wings over her babies to shield them from bad weather or danger. Cherishing your special friend means protecting him or her from all harm, just as you take precautions to protect yourself from dangers of any kind.
Monday, August 23, 2010
God's Definition of True Love
The challenge to love God's way seems simple enough: if he is attracted to her and she is attracted to him, why not focus your attention on exercising God’s definition of love in your relationship?
What is God’s definition of love? “I love you, period” is the only real love, the only
true love, the only biblical love. It is the kind of love God displays toward us: unconditional, no if, no because. The Bible declares: “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son” (John 3:16). “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is the God who loves us unconditionally, in spite of our sin, in spite of our weakness.
What is God’s definition of love? “I love you, period” is the only real love, the only
true love, the only biblical love. It is the kind of love God displays toward us: unconditional, no if, no because. The Bible declares: “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son” (John 3:16). “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is the God who loves us unconditionally, in spite of our sin, in spite of our weakness.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I Love You, Period
The third kind of love is: “I love you, period” and it does not have conditions. This kind of love says, “I love you despite what you may be like deep down inside. I love you no matter what might change about you. You can’t do anything to turn off my love. I love you, period!”
“I love you, period” is not blind. It can and should know a great deal about the other
person’s failures, shortcomings, and faults. Yet it totally accepts him or her without demanding anything in return. There is no way you can earn this type of love, nor can you lose it. It has no strings attached.
“I love you, period” is different from “I Love you if ...” in that it does not require certain conditions to be met before it is given. It is also different from “I love you because ...” in that it is not generated by attractive or desirable qualities in the other person. Lust, romance, infatuation, sex, “if love”, and “because love” are predominantly about getting something from another person. Couples in their first couple of months together almost always closer to the “getting side” in their relationship. If what they identify as love is to grow into true love, each of them needs to make a transition to the giving side.
“I love you, period” is not blind. It can and should know a great deal about the other
person’s failures, shortcomings, and faults. Yet it totally accepts him or her without demanding anything in return. There is no way you can earn this type of love, nor can you lose it. It has no strings attached.
“I love you, period” is different from “I Love you if ...” in that it does not require certain conditions to be met before it is given. It is also different from “I love you because ...” in that it is not generated by attractive or desirable qualities in the other person. Lust, romance, infatuation, sex, “if love”, and “because love” are predominantly about getting something from another person. Couples in their first couple of months together almost always closer to the “getting side” in their relationship. If what they identify as love is to grow into true love, each of them needs to make a transition to the giving side.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
“I Love You Because …” Doesn't Last
What happens to love when a female meets someone who is sweeter and kinder than her current boyfriend? How will she treat him if he stops being impressive or if he cannot afford to take her on romantic dates? If her love is based on what he does, it may not survive if there are any negative changes in his role or performance.
“I love you because ...” is not true love. You may find yourself attracted to someone
because of his or her personality, position, intelligence, skill, or ability. But if your
love is not founded on more than what that person appears to be, has, or does, it
will not last.
“I love you because ...” is not true love. You may find yourself attracted to someone
because of his or her personality, position, intelligence, skill, or ability. But if your
love is not founded on more than what that person appears to be, has, or does, it
will not last.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
I Love You Because ...
The second kind of love that people express is “I love you because…”. “I love you because …” is a close cousin to “I love you if ...”. One person loves another because of something he or she is, has, or does. Someone may say, “I love you because … you are so beautiful” or “I love you because … you take good care of me” or “I love you because … you make me laugh.” Sadly, some may even think “I love you because … you are the only one showing interest in me right now.” Females often experience because love when they are strongly attracted to a male because he is so sweet, kind, romantic or spends a lot of money on her.
“I love you because ...” sounds pretty good. Almost everyone appreciates being loved for who they are or what they do. It is certainly preferable to “I love you if ...”, which must be constantly earned and requires a lot of effort. Being loved because we are good looking, witty, kind, wealthy, popular, and so on seems less demanding and conditional than trying to bargain for love.
“I love you because ...” sounds pretty good. Almost everyone appreciates being loved for who they are or what they do. It is certainly preferable to “I love you if ...”, which must be constantly earned and requires a lot of effort. Being loved because we are good looking, witty, kind, wealthy, popular, and so on seems less demanding and conditional than trying to bargain for love.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Strings Attached
“I love you if ...” always has strings attached. As long as certain conditions prevail, the relationship is fine. But when expectations are not met, love is withdrawn. Many marriages break up because they were built on if love. When one or both partners fail to perform up to the desired standard, “love” turns to disappointment and resentment.
A male's “love” for a female for several months in the beginning of a relationship may be largely based on if love. As long as she makes him feel good, as long as she dresses to please him, as long as she allows him to enjoy her closeness, he is interested in her. But what would happen to his “love” if she said, “No more kissing, no more hand holding, and certainly no more intense cuddling in the car”? Would he still want to be with her and spend his hard-earned money to show her a good time?
“I love you If …” is not true love. If you are in a relationship and sense pressure to perform in a certain way to gain the love you desire, the relationship is not governed by true love. Although it may feel wonderful, it is not true love that lasts a life time.
A male's “love” for a female for several months in the beginning of a relationship may be largely based on if love. As long as she makes him feel good, as long as she dresses to please him, as long as she allows him to enjoy her closeness, he is interested in her. But what would happen to his “love” if she said, “No more kissing, no more hand holding, and certainly no more intense cuddling in the car”? Would he still want to be with her and spend his hard-earned money to show her a good time?
“I love you If …” is not true love. If you are in a relationship and sense pressure to perform in a certain way to gain the love you desire, the relationship is not governed by true love. Although it may feel wonderful, it is not true love that lasts a life time.
Monday, August 9, 2010
I Love You If ...
There are basically three ways of behaving in relationships that people routinely label as “love”: 1) I love you if …, 2) I love because …, and 3) I love you, period.
The first one is: “I love you if…”. Qualified love, if love, is conditional love. It is given or received only when certain conditions are met. The only way to get this kind of love is to earn it by performing in an approved way. Some parents love their children if they behave well, if they get good grades, or if they act or dress a certain way. Among married or dating couples, love may be withheld if one partner fails to do or be what the other expects. “I love you If ...” is basically selfish--it is a bargaining chip offered in exchange for something desired.
Many young women have only experienced the kind of love that says, “I love you if … you give me what I want sexually” or “I love you if … you have sex with me just this once.” Another subtle sexual if pressure is found in the common misconception that all dating couples are having sex. The message is, “Since everyone is doing it, you will love me if you do it too.” What these girls don’t realize is that the love they expect to win from a boy by meeting his sexual demands is only a cheap imitation of love. It compromises their character. It cannot satisfy the need for love and in the end it is never worth the price of sexual compromise. To be continued.
The first one is: “I love you if…”. Qualified love, if love, is conditional love. It is given or received only when certain conditions are met. The only way to get this kind of love is to earn it by performing in an approved way. Some parents love their children if they behave well, if they get good grades, or if they act or dress a certain way. Among married or dating couples, love may be withheld if one partner fails to do or be what the other expects. “I love you If ...” is basically selfish--it is a bargaining chip offered in exchange for something desired.
Many young women have only experienced the kind of love that says, “I love you if … you give me what I want sexually” or “I love you if … you have sex with me just this once.” Another subtle sexual if pressure is found in the common misconception that all dating couples are having sex. The message is, “Since everyone is doing it, you will love me if you do it too.” What these girls don’t realize is that the love they expect to win from a boy by meeting his sexual demands is only a cheap imitation of love. It compromises their character. It cannot satisfy the need for love and in the end it is never worth the price of sexual compromise. To be continued.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
True Love Isn't ... Sex
True love is not the same as sex. Many students (and many adults as well) confuse the intensity of sexual desire with true love. Perhaps you have wondered the same thing about your sexual desires for someone.
Sex as God intended it is not wrong. It was designed by God for procreation and fulfillment within the bounds of marriage. But sex and love are distinct. You can have sex without love and love without sex. Love is a process; sex is an act. Love is learned; sex is instinctive. Love requires constant attention; sex takes no effort. Love takes time to develop and mature; sex needs no time to develop. Love requires emotional and spiritual interaction; sex requires only physical interaction. Love deepens a relationship; sex without love dulls a relationship.
If love is more than lust, romance, infatuation or sex, you may wonder how you know whether you're in love. That’s the big question, especially when you find yourself attracted to members of the opposite sex and increasingly involved in dating. To answer that question, you need to know more than what true love isn’t. You need to understand what true love is. Just as many people confuse love with lust, romance, infatuation, and sex, many are also in the dark about the different kinds of love people express.
Sex as God intended it is not wrong. It was designed by God for procreation and fulfillment within the bounds of marriage. But sex and love are distinct. You can have sex without love and love without sex. Love is a process; sex is an act. Love is learned; sex is instinctive. Love requires constant attention; sex takes no effort. Love takes time to develop and mature; sex needs no time to develop. Love requires emotional and spiritual interaction; sex requires only physical interaction. Love deepens a relationship; sex without love dulls a relationship.
If love is more than lust, romance, infatuation or sex, you may wonder how you know whether you're in love. That’s the big question, especially when you find yourself attracted to members of the opposite sex and increasingly involved in dating. To answer that question, you need to know more than what true love isn’t. You need to understand what true love is. Just as many people confuse love with lust, romance, infatuation, and sex, many are also in the dark about the different kinds of love people express.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
True Love Isn't ... Infatuation
True love is not the same as infatuation. Infatuation is a fascination with and intense interest in someone of the opposite sex. You find yourself thinking about that person all day and dreaming about him or her all night. You plan your day around seeing or talking to that special person. Your thoughts may be so preoccupied with that person that you can’t concentrate on anything else. Another term for infatuation is puppy love. Puppy love may be real to a puppy but if the only love you experience is puppy love, you will end up leading a dog’s life!
When people talk about “falling in love” or “love at first sight”, they are usually talking about infatuation. Infatuation can leave a female feeling breathless and starry-eyed about him. And he might feel lightheaded and addlebrained with her. Maybe you have experienced similar feelings about someone of the opposite sex. Infatuation is usually “me-centered,” it's about the feelings you feel. Love is “others-centered,” it's more concerned about how the other person feels.
When people talk about “falling in love” or “love at first sight”, they are usually talking about infatuation. Infatuation can leave a female feeling breathless and starry-eyed about him. And he might feel lightheaded and addlebrained with her. Maybe you have experienced similar feelings about someone of the opposite sex. Infatuation is usually “me-centered,” it's about the feelings you feel. Love is “others-centered,” it's more concerned about how the other person feels.
Monday, August 2, 2010
True Love Isn't ... Romance
True love is not the same as romance. When a couple is together, they can almost hear violins playing sweet love music. When they kiss, emotional fireworks go off inside. Whenever he speaks sweet words of love and affection or cares for her in kind, romantic ways, she feels like a princess. Whenever she gazes lovingly into his eyes, he feels stronger and more important than anyone else. Candlelight dinners, soft music, and starry skies bring on intense romantic feelings in both of them.
Romantic feelings are wonderful in a close male/female relationship. God wired us to experience these feelings in special relationships with the opposite sex. Perhaps you have enjoyed the inner warmth and fireworks of romance in a dating relationship. But the excitement and warmth of romance cannot be equated with true love. Romance is a feeling; true love is much more.
Romantic feelings are wonderful in a close male/female relationship. God wired us to experience these feelings in special relationships with the opposite sex. Perhaps you have enjoyed the inner warmth and fireworks of romance in a dating relationship. But the excitement and warmth of romance cannot be equated with true love. Romance is a feeling; true love is much more.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
True Love Isn't ... Lust
The first step to identifying true love is to see what true love isn’t:
True love is not the same as lust. Love and lust are often confused in our culture. In fact, many of today’s movies, popular songs, and novels about love are really about lust. How can you tell the difference? Love gives; lust takes. Love values; lust uses. Love endures; lust subsides. Luke may be a little confused between the two. He enjoys being close to Traci because she awakens his pleasurable sexual urges and feelings. He does nice things for Traci at least in part because he thinks it will make her more willing to share the physical closeness and intimacy that he enjoys. And his lust nearly caused him to compromise his sexual purity and hers.
Yes, physical attraction is often the spark that eventually ignites into true love. God designed us with the desire and capacity for sexual intimacy. But if your interaction with someone of the opposite sex is based on intense sexual feelings and physical gratification, lust may be playing the role of love in the relationship.
True love is not the same as lust. Love and lust are often confused in our culture. In fact, many of today’s movies, popular songs, and novels about love are really about lust. How can you tell the difference? Love gives; lust takes. Love values; lust uses. Love endures; lust subsides. Luke may be a little confused between the two. He enjoys being close to Traci because she awakens his pleasurable sexual urges and feelings. He does nice things for Traci at least in part because he thinks it will make her more willing to share the physical closeness and intimacy that he enjoys. And his lust nearly caused him to compromise his sexual purity and hers.
Yes, physical attraction is often the spark that eventually ignites into true love. God designed us with the desire and capacity for sexual intimacy. But if your interaction with someone of the opposite sex is based on intense sexual feelings and physical gratification, lust may be playing the role of love in the relationship.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Searching for Love
What is this thing called love and how do you know when you have found it? People are willing to give almost anything to experience love, particularly from the opposite sex. Yet many students searching for love find only heartache and disappointment, because they don’t know what they are looking for. They confuse true love with other experiences and emotions. As a result, they fail to experience love, because they don’t know what love is and what love isn’t.
Perhaps you are in a relationship with someone very special and the L-word is on your mind if not in your vocabulary. Are you “in love”? Do you know how to tell if you are? Or maybe you haven’t found that someone special yet, but you want to be ready when you do. You want to know what true love is so you can recognize it when it happens in your life.
Perhaps you are in a relationship with someone very special and the L-word is on your mind if not in your vocabulary. Are you “in love”? Do you know how to tell if you are? Or maybe you haven’t found that someone special yet, but you want to be ready when you do. You want to know what true love is so you can recognize it when it happens in your life.
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