God Loves You Because He Made You
Admittedly, most of us throw the word “love” around entirely too much. We “love” that flavor of Starburst, “love” that new movie that just came out, “love” ice skating, and “love” a new skateboard. No wonder it gets confusing to understand God’s love for us. The Bible says God loves us, but what does that mean? What does God’s love look like? It’s crucial to trust that God loves us, so the Bible even defines love for us! As we start a new unit this month, start with the memory verse to learn God’s own definition for love!
LOVE is…
MEMORY VERSE: “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails!” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
This Week’s Finish Line: God loves you because He made you!
We studied Psalm 136 this week, which shows specific ways God showed His love toward Israel. The psalm recounts ways God protected and rescued the Israelites over and over again. It was a song for the Israelites to help them remember how faithful God is. The whole chapter lists out characteristics of God, especially highlighting how much He loves his people. Isn’t that amazing? God displays the same steadfast love towards those who have put their trust in Him as he showed to the Israelites. Verse 23 says “He remembered us in our weakness.His faithful love endures forever.” Just because we are His, He loves us without fail.
Family Questions:
- Look at Psalm 136 together. What line do you see repeated through the whole chapter?
- What does steadfast/faithful mean? What does it mean to “endure forever?”
- What does it say God created in this chapter?
- How does it make you feel to know the Creator of the whole universe loves you perfectly?
Bring it Home Conversations & Activities:
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
TEACHER: God is Faithful
At dinner this week, look back at Psalm 136. In verses 10-22, the psalmist is recording specific ways God was faithful to Israel. Write a few verses of your own version of how God has been faithful to your family!
FRIEND: God Created Everything
While driving in the car this week, look out the windows and notice the details of what God created. See any flowers? Trees with leaves or without leaves? Watch it rain- what happens to the sky and to the ground when it rains? If you see any bugs, look at those too. God created all the big stuff, but also the little stuff! He cares SO much about details that he even made tiny bugs intricately complex. This is the same God who loves us without fail!
COUNSELOR: God Always Loves Us!
During bedtime this week, talk together about how much God loves us. Read psalm 136 to your child, and have them repeat the line “his faithful love endures forever.” Pray that you will both remember & trust that to be true this week.
COACH: Love Defined
Make a poster to put up in your house where everyone can see it. Write out the definition of love (from the memory verses 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) as a list so it’s easy to read. Have your kids pick a few words each and tell a story about a time God showed that kind of love toward them or a person in the Bible. For example, for “love keeps no record of wrongs,” you might use the example of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Be creative!
Prayer
Thank God for His love that never ends. Thank Him for creating the entire universe, knowing you intimately, and loving you personally. Thank Him for all the ways He has loved you throughout your life.
Looking Ahead
Next week we continue studying the character trait of LOVE, and we will study the way God loves us no matter what using the story in Luke 15:11-32.
Image via Flickr Creative Commons