If you are married, you know you should love your spouse, but do you know how to love your spouse?
The Bible gives us a perfect example of committed marital love: God’s love for the church.
Here we have a list of several ways your love for your spouse should mirror God’s love for the church. As you read this list, pause and ask yourself if how you treat your spouse lines up with every example. If it does, great! If it doesn’t…well, that just means you get another chance to love your spouse better.
Serving One Another is Empowered by His Love
“God has poured out His love into our hearts.” (Rom. 5:5)
We are able to serve each other in love because of His love in us. Marriage can be hard at times, but He is the one who gives us the strength to love even when it isn’t easy. Does your love for your spouse look like His?
His Love is Captivating
It’s His love that is motivating and empowering. There is no love like His, and it is an unmistakable love. Therefore,
we should find evidences of this divine love lived out in our lives and
marriages.
His Love Initiates
His love moves first, never waiting around to be asked
or invited!
“None seek after God, no not one!” (Romans 3:11), but
rather, “he came to seek and save” (Luke 19:10).
Initiate, initiate, initiate toward those God has called you to love—beginning with
your spouse!
- Initiate apologies when you’ve messed up! (Read ‘How to Reboot Your Marriage’)
- Initiate appreciation for even little things.
- Initiate “just thinking of you” messages regularly.
- Initiate support around the house and with the kids.
- Initiate a date night (Read ‘3 Reasons Christian Couples Need a Date Night’)
His Love Sacrifices
His love is free but it’s not cheap; it cost His Son.
“God so loved that He gave” (John 3:16). “As Christ loved the church and
gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
Sacrifice a little of your time, convenience, self-interest in communication of His love toward
others—beginning with your spouse.
His Love Rejoices
His love gives with gladness, thrilled at the opportunity
to care for others.
“And when he has found the lost sheep, he lays
it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15:5). “And were sharing with all,
as anyone might have need, and day by day continuing with one
mind with gladness” (Acts 2:45-46).
Rejoice often over the privilege of giving. Reflect often on the wonder of having anything of eternal
significance to share.
His Love Knows No Boundaries
After Jesus confirms the imperativeof the Greatest Commandment and prepares to share His illustration
from the Good Samaritan, He’s confronted with the age old question, …”who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:39)
The question is in essence, “What are the limits of such love?”
And Christ’s answer challenges us to see people the way God sees them so we can love them the way
God loves them. Each and every human bears the “Imago Dei”—the
image of God, and therefore have a worth, value, and dignity declared
by Him. (Gen. 1:26)
They may be—as we once were—being held
captive by the prince of the power of the air, but they’ve not lost the
image of God; fallen in nature, separated from the life of God, they
still, as humans, bear his image (see Gen. 9:16; James 3:8–9).
Thus, even as He “demonstrated love while we were yet sinners…” (Rom.
5:8)—we’re called and empowered to demonstrate this same
wondrous love—freely we have received it, freely we give it!
Start Today!
It’s never too late to start loving your spouse with the love of God. Start today! Do something sweet for your spouse, offer to do one of his/her chores, or plan something that your spouse would enjoy.
If you’re in the DFW area, consider planning a comedy date night with your spouse. You’ll have tons of laughter, bonding, and most importantly, a clean evening of fun. Sign up today!
