Special Feature
Have you ever landed heels-up on an icy sidewalk or stumbled up a flight of stairs? In either case, the experience was not pleasant. No one falls on purpose unless they’re a skydiver or slapstick comedian. The same is true with marital love. Claims of “falling in love” are common. But is love an experience you stub your toe on, or is it an intentional commitment cultivated over time?
Fate or Divine Providence. You see it in movies—the chance encounter on a crowded street or an empty beach. A glance… a smile… a date… a wedding; blissful devotion blossoms in ten minutes. Hollywood magic! Is this how true love works? Too often, real life mimics fiction and results in a moment of passion masquerading as abiding love. Biblical love is not random. What feels like “love at first sight” might be a temporary response to emotional or physical attraction. Christians who seek God’s direction in finding a mate can trust Him to orchestrate when and how the encounter occurs. And yet God’s sovereignty works with human involvement. Marriage-minded love seekers must put action behind their prayers.
Know Love. Scripture offers an accurate view of love. The Hebrew word for love (aheb) and its Greek counterpart (agape) describe a love that includes and transcends affection. This love moves a Father to sacrifice His Son to save enemies (Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 5:8). It is also a love that makes years seem like days to win the hand of a bride (Genesis 29:20). Biblical love commits to the relationship as an act of the will and resolves to remain faithful at the risk of rejection.
Grow in Love. The depth of love is unknown at the onset of a relationship. True devotion is revealed over a lifetime. As husbands and wives attend to each other’s needs, they discover those needs change with the crosswinds of life. The birth of a child, a sudden illness, a job loss, the empty nest, or a thousand other unpredictable experiences present challenges to the couple’s affections. Each challenge plunges dedicated spouses to new levels of unconditional adoration.
Love learns and adapts when tested by life’s circumstances. It is a lifelong commitment to patience and forgiveness. Do you desire authentic marital love? Don’t take chances with your heart. Instead, trust what is certain—God’s Word. There you will find qualities of the ideal spouse surefooted and ready to lead you to lasting love.
-Dr. Alonza Jones
Teacher, Writer, Speaker
President and Co-founder, Biblical Marriage Institute
Follow: Instagram @biblicalmarriageinstitute, Facebook @Biblical Marriage Institute-Official Site
