While love involves all kinds of emotions, feelings, desires, longings, and heart-tugging attachments, entering into a covenant relationship and taking an oath (a promise) requires so much more of two people.

True love requires a choice. So, when the Scriptures say that God so loved the world the he gave his only Son (John 3:16), God wants us to be sure that we know that this was no accident or the result of coercion. He made a choice to love us at any cost! Feelings come and go, but true love lasts! God wants his people to know the joy of true love ~ so that their joy can be complete!

First of all, no one can give what he or she has not first received. Some people cannot love simply because they have not love in them to give. Sometimes, such people have been hurt or traumatized in life; they may be bitter and cynical.

They close up like a shell; to avoid being hurt again. They won't receive love and can't give it. Such persons will only be able to begin heeding the commandment of God to love others when they experience God's healing and restorative love for themselves!

Secondly, none of us will know the joy of loving and being loved if we fail to heed God's commandments. God is love (1 John 4). If I refuse to do what Love tells me, I'll miss out on the joy that Love has to give me!