"Thou Shalt Love..."

Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.
Doctrine & Covenants 42:22

“We fell in love.” “We grew apart.” “We just don’t love each other like we used to.” Society often talks about love like it is some passive experience that just happens to you by accident.  You fall in love like one would fall into a ditch. Like it is a state of being in which you have little control.  

The Lord does not feel that way about love. One might say, “But I just don’t love my spouse anymore.” Notice in the scripture above that the Lord does not say, “Thou shalt be in love with thy spouse.” We are commanded to love them. The word in the verse is a command using an action verb. We are commanded to do something: love. Another way to say the verse could be, “Thou shalt act in a loving manner with thy wife with all they heart…”  So how does one “love” another? Remember all the things you would do when you were courting: the kind note, the compliments, the thoughtful words, the shoulder rub, the act of sacrifice and service? 

But one might say, “I just don’t feel like doing those things anymore.” Yet notice God is not requesting, “If you should feel inclined, love your spouse.”  It is a command! The funny thing is, if we will do those things, we will find it changes our own hearts.  We love those whom we act in a loving way towards. The act of loving leads to feeling love. 

Today’s Takeaway: Whom has God called you to love?  If you are married, what acts of love would the Lord have you show today?  If you are single, what family members would God want you to show love towards?  Plan and carry out an extra act of love today, and see if it doesn't increase your love for that person God has purposely placed in your life.