Theme of the Week: Marriage
Bible Verse: “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (emphasis added)
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
We couldn’t spend a week talking about love without eventually ending up in 1 Corinthians 13. While this passage is popular at weddings (and for obvious reason), it’s not actually about romantic love. Paul wrote this to a church encouraging them to treat each other with this kind of love.
But just because it was not written about the love of a marriage, does not mean it doesn’t apply. If this is how we are to love other believers in Jesus, then certainly it is how we should love our spouses. It is a good reference point for how we are loving. This list, filled with both positives and negatives—things that love does and does not do—gives us helpful insight into where we are doing well or, if you are more like me, areas where we do not love well.
Patience, kindness, never jealous, won’t brag, isn’t arrogant, doesn’t act disgracefully, isn’t ever selfish, calm, forgiving, loves the truth, protects, believes, hopes, endures, never fails. How secure would experiencing this kind of love make you feel? Even imagining those things is like an exhale of deep comfort.
We are called to love our wives in words and deeds, these words and deeds. Our emotions may fail us from time to time and we may not feel the same love for our spouse that we once did once upon a time. However, love is not merely an emotion. It is an action. Go and be an action hero.
Prayer: Jesus, this is a high bar of love. And while it is not limited to marriage, it certainly finds a home in a marriage relationship. Show me where I am failing to love like you love. Give me the courage to confess and the determination to work toward loving my wife the way you call me to love her.
Reflection: Tell your wife you love her, then show her you do.
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