Love

Today is the 5th anniversary of my marriage to the most beautiful, wonderful,  and loving person in the world.. We dated for four years before we tied the knot, so I suppose you could say we have NINE YEARS of experience in Love. If you've been in a long relationship (and are happy) then you know that love takes work sometimes, a lot of the time actually. I think that, more than anything else, this is because we never got a really good example of what love really is. We expect it to be like the romantic comedies and when that "in love" feeling wears off, we're asking for a divorce. According to a chart outlining the divorce rates among 1st, 2nd, and 3rd marriages on dailyinfographic.com, it shows that there is a 50% chance for divorce in "all marriages". Let's take a look at what love is according to the bible.

The most popular verse for young men trying to win the heart of a young lady is easily 1st Corinthians 13:4-7. "Love is patient, love is kind and not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Despite being slightly "overused", this is still one of the most powerful things Paul has ever written in his letters to the churches. It is not only an explanation of how God loves us, it is also a set of instructions on how we are to love others, especially our spouse. I find myself expecting an apology for certain things that my wife may have said or done, but once I've quelled my anger or hurt, I think of this verse and am comforted. I love my wife wholly and completely and do my best to "love my wife as Christ loved the church". Recently, I've discovered that the verses above will always save a relationship. Are you being impatient with your husband's laziness or feel that he is selfish? Are you jealous of your wife's coworkers or friends? I know a couple where arrogance is threatening to tear the entire household apart. Most of us do. If we all can just love as we love ourselves, as we love Jesus, as God loves us... Imagine the amazing world this would be. "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

So, in closing I ask that you consider rethinking the cliche and turning it into the astounding revelation that it is. Love is the most powerful force we, as humans, are capable of possessing and using. It is one of the greatest gifts that we were given.

I love you all, my brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless you.
Jimmy

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,

Copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,

1995 by The LockmanFoundation. Used by permission.

www.Lockman.org"

Statistics on divorce in America can be found at this link

with a full list of sources:

http://dailyinfographic.com/divorce-in-america-infographic/divorce-in-america-3