My friend, Chris Blake, taught me the "so that" principle. It's a wonderful principle that transforms obedience into a loving relationship.

If you sum up all the commands Jesus gave His disciples, along with the disciples' counsels to the fledgling church, you will discover that our purpose is to love. "A new commandment I give you that you love one another" is a principle Jesus repeated over and over. Yet somehow in our attempts for approval and purity, many of us miss the idea.

To illustrate, Chris describes how some people who espouse certain behavior reforms can be some of the most judgmental and unloving people. They forget that whatever changes God leads them to make in their lives are so that they can love better.

That places temperance and health reform in a whole new light. I make a conscious effort to include more green, leafy vegetables in my diet to give me a better disposition so that I can love better. I need to go to bed earlier at night to fortify my physical and emotional reserves to make me less irritable and impatient so that I can love better.

You see, our wonderful Creator has designed us to be partners with Him in love. He has provided special insights into how our body, mind, and spirit are interrelated and how our choices can enhance or hinder our effectiveness to love.

So, next time you pat yourself on the back for eating something, or not eating something, remember you're making that choice so that you can love better.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director and Lake Union Herald editor.