June 2, 2008
Love is a Decision
by Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor
Every one then who
hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his
house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on
the rock. Matthew 7: 24-25
The month of May marks the beginning of wedding season. I
attended my cousin Kristin’s wedding in
You’ve seen them – older couples who have twinkles in their eyes and cherish their years together.
As I watched these two newly married couples begin their journeys, I couldn’t help but ponder how God’s design for earthly marriage mirrors our faith walk. Marriage, after all, is one of the most profound symbols found throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Just as couples must enter freely into marriage, Christ freely suffered and died for us, and in turn, our faith journey begins with a free will decision to accept His gift. And just as the initial commitment on the altar requires daily decisions to love for the marriage to thrive, our initial acceptance of Christ leads to a series of decisions to love God and continue to walk in the faith.
Our deacon, reflecting on the verses above,
pointed out the emphasis Christ puts on our actions, our
will. Even when the storms of life beat us down, our decision to remain committed to Christ and the Christian life will
keep us connected to God, helping us navigate the unknowns. And ultimately, the
decision to love will allow each one of us to know divine love that surpasses all human relationships.
You’ve seen them –
individuals facing death or old age with twinkles in their eyes and peace in their hearts.
Perhaps you’re going through a dark time where God feels distant. In a culture that increasingly sees divorce as no big deal, you may be finding the decision to stay on the narrow path of faith, to daily choose virtue over vice, exhausting and even foreign.
The good news is that no matter how weather-beaten we get on our journey, God is the perfect Spouse, forever faithful and forever walking beside us even when we stray from the original path. His unwavering grace and love are always available to us, and He welcomes us with open arms when we come home.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Just as God gives spouses the gift of each other in marriage, I’ve found God often works through others to encourage us in our faith. Think about the people He’s placed in your life right now. Is there someone who needs you to walk along side them for support? Or perhaps you’re struggling. Take comfort in knowing that storms are normal, and God especially treasures our decision to remain faithful when the decision is made during tough times.
Further Reading