The Meaning of Love
Greetings in Christ,
Sunday is Valentines Day a day where couples go out and enjoy each other’s company. Of course, one doesn’t have to go out to enjoy each other’s company; one could stay in and make dinner. Love is more than just a word when a man and a woman get married according to God’s Word they are to be one flesh. Marriage is a covenant between God, the man, and the women, for the rest of their lives. Love is not just an emotional response where you “feel” that you love something. Being in love with someone, unlike what many people think today, it’s loving a person, it’s seeing them at their worst, best and everywhere in between. Marriage is the expression of a heartfelt love that only comes as one first loves God and then his/her spouse.
Today, I want to speak specifically to married couples, but I also want to address singles. First, I want to speak to the men. Men do you have Valentines Day planned out? Men, while giving your lady a gift is important to them, it is not everything. What your lady wants, men, is your love. The Lord hardwired her to love. This is why God gives men a command to love your wives in Ephesians 5:33. This command extends especially when they seem to be unlovely. Yet men, you have to realize that God gave you your wife. Treat her like a princess!
Valentines Day may be just a day, but the purpose of the day should run throughout every day, every moment and every year of one’s marriage. Marriage is a sacred institution instituted by God. It is the highest form of intimacy that God has given to man. The Lord uses marriage in the life of men and women to effect the sanctification of the couple. The Lord created marriage in the life of men and women; for the Men, are you intentional with your wife? Do you intentionally pursue your wife? Do you demonstrate to her through your daily actions that you love her? By this, I’m drawing out the point that we as men cannot do this on our own. We need, as men, to rely on the grace of God which empowers us, as men, through the work of the Holy Spirit to be a godly men. This also draws out the point of growing in godliness as men. Men, if you are not growing in godliness, do not expect your wife to respect you. Women can spot a fake and a fraud a mile away!
Men, I also want to talk to you for a minute about one other thing. Your wife wants your heart. She doesn’t want the pieces you offer her day in and day out; she wants your whole heart, she deserves your whole heart. You need to understand that we live in a culture where our masculinity is being redefined in an attempt to neuter us of our masculinity. It time that men stand up, rise up and stand together for Jesus and His glory! Men, because you love Jesus, be an example of the grace Jesus has shown you, to your wife, your children, your neighbors, and in your city. It is only because of His grace, not without His grace, that you can be His witness to your family and friends. Do not lord over your family but love your family.
Women, it’s important that you respect your husbands. How respect looks in your marriage is different for every lady. Every couple has different personalities so how this is fleshed out is different for each married couple. When a man feels respected by his wife he feels whole. He feels whole because what a man needs most is respect from his wife. Paul expresses this idea in Ephesians 5:33. Women, it is unhelpful to belittle your husband or to get angry with him. These things cause men to respond in negative ways. Before the couple fights, it is imperative to set forth ground rules for dealing with difficulty. By doing this you will avoid major fights, which is helpful since major fights do nothing but harm to one’s marriage.
Singles, both men and women, this may be a hard day for you. Perhaps your a guy and have a girlfriend or if you're a girl and have a boyfriend. Pursue those relationships by the grace of God. This will help you maintain a godly perspective on the opposite sex. Don’t just say you’re going to put Jesus at the center of your life or your relationship. The path to godliness is not paved with good intentions but does occur as one daily relies on the grace of God. By this you should, young men and women, not just give intellectual assent to the grace of God, but implement it. Christianity is more than just words -- it is words accompanied by a heart transformed by God’s grace. Many people struggle in relationships because they disjoin the relationship between words and actions. Faith without works is dead according to James 2. The content of the Gospel never rings truer in al life that is being transformed by the grace of God. Is that true of your life? Is that true of your marriage? If so, I praise God! If not, I implore you today to search your heart and life, repent and return to the Lord.
Valentines Day is just a day and love is just a word. Yet, words have power the Word tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue, in our words. The Word of God for example is powerful in that it says it can pierce us to the marrow. The Word of God is more than mere words. God uses His Word in the life of His people to bring about the salvation of people, to preserve believers, to build up the Church and for the advancement the Kingdom of God. The Word of God is vital and powerful, and yet it is words. We read words everyday, and we speak words everyday. Everyday all around us we are surrounded by words. Men, you speak words to your wives. Women, you speak words to your husbands. Are those words edifying? Do your words show you care about your spouse? I implore you married couples to intentionally show your spouse that you love them today and everyday. By doing this your marriage will continue to grow, develop and mature. Marriage is for a lifetime.
Men, if you love your wives, show them today and everyday; not just with your words but by your actions. Show her you take your God given responsibilities seriously! Women, show your husbands that you respect them, not just with words but by your actions. This short devotional is not meant to be an exhaustive treatment or cover every issue in relation to a marriage. I realize that some of this may not apply to every marriage. I have intentionally generalized much of what I’ve said here today. If you have specific questions and would like to talk about what I’ve said here, I welcome it. Please send your responses to pastordavid@servantsofgrace.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Dave
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