Be Known for Your Love
John: 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Does your spouse boast about how well-loved they are? Do you know that you are representing Christ with diligence in the ways you are serving, caring for, and supporting your partner?
The followers of Jesus stood out because of how they loved one another. The first and most important place we are to live with love is our marriage relationship. We give our best first to the one our soul loves, rather than what we often do, which is making an effort to love them after first giving all our time and energy away to others in our lives.
What does being known by our love in our marriages mean practically?
Well, it starts with a realization that marriage is a holy covenant. How we treat each other in our homes is directly connected to our relationship with God. Following Christ entails action, movement, and a trajectory. Following means we are going somewhere; we are being led toward a destination. Our destination is Heaven, and God's Word is full of instructions on how we live on the journey towards our forever home.
When it comes to marriage, God gives guidance on the journey. Ephesians 5:33 says, "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Love and respect should be the defining qualities of our marriage relationship. We should be known by how honorable and kind we are towards our spouse. Our actions should show the world Jesus.
None of us live this out with perfection. Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. It's the coming together of two imperfect people committed to embodying God's love for each other, day in and day out. It's hard.
The good thing is that a part of loving well is apologizing well. We owe our partner not perfection but a humble, teachable, and repentant heart. If we live willing and able to say sorry and start again, we can remain close no matter what challenges or failures we bring to our relationship.
Remember that while striving to be known by your love, we have to love Jesus' way and not in the way that we "think" our partner wants us to love them. Love from the Bible is defined in 1 Corinthians 13. It speaks of a love that is kind, humble, and patient. God's love isn't self-seeking; it considers our partner's needs first! It's truthful, always sharing honestly with each other. It forgives easily, not bringing back up the failures of the past. It is slow to anger. It protects by placing boundaries that keep your marriage safe. It lifts each other up. This love is unfailing and will sustain our marriages till death. No other love is able to last a lifetime.
God, help us to be known by our love! First and foremost, let our partner feel loved, seen, and cherished in our presence. Give us the strength to remain humble and teachable so they always feel safe around us. Father, let our marriage be a testimony of Your love for us. Would others see our union and be inspired by it, not because we are perfect but because no matter what we face as a couple, we show each other love and respect. Help us remember to follow your model for what love is, keeping kindness, selflessness, forgiveness, and patience at the forefront of our interactions. We thank you for giving us a love that can last a lifetime. Amen.
Challenge Questions:
Do you think others would describe your marriage as loving by how they see you and your spouse interact? Why or why not?
How can you embody the love of Christ for your spouse this week?
Start and end your day by showing love to your partner. Begin the morning with a kiss and a prayer. End the day with a hug and a prayer. Consistent affection and prayer are great ways to ensure love is being expressed in your marriage.
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.
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