by Kevin B. Bullard
Kevin and Cetelia Bullard are speaking at the Better Marriages Conference July 11-14, 2013 in Raleigh, NC
This month I want to challenge you to love your spouse like your Heavenly Father loves you … in an ongoing, long-suffering, and generous manner.
The passage of scripture today is from Luke 6, and has been “marriage-ized” to highlight how you should love your mate. Please read the passage three times, each time with a different perspective. Read Luke 6:27-28, 31-34-36.
1st Perspective: Read it to get a general overview of what it’s saying.
2nd Perspective: Read it while thinking about how your mate’s attitude, behaviors, and choices have hurt you.
3rd Perspective: Read it while thinking of yourself enabled by God to respond to your mate with His love.
To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your spouse [who may be acting like your enemy]. Let him/her bring out the best in you, not the worst. When your spouse gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for him/her. If your spouse takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want your spouse to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for him/her! If you only love your spouse when he/she is lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help your spouse if he/she helps you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give to your spouse for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
I tell you, love your spouse [who may be acting like your enemy]. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way your Father lives toward you, generously and graciously, even when you’re at your worst. Your Father is kind; you be kind. (Luke 6:27-28, 31-34, 35-36, MSG)
Now that you have read these verses, I encourage you to begin taking practical steps, empowered by God, to love and respond to your mate the same way your Heavenly Father loves and responds to you when you fall short and miss the mark.
Remember, the love of God has already been poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It’s up to you to partner with God so He can love your mate through you.
Always easy? No. Worth it? Definitely.
====
Kevin & Cetelia Bullard are the duo behind Marriage Works!, a ministry that creates resources and experiences that help couples build & sustain a healthy, functional marriage. They have been married since 2000, and are parents to three great children; Max, Caitlin, and Kuria Joy. Kevin & Cetelia both come from divorced homes, so they understand the pain and confusion caused by broken marriages. As a result, they are committed to making their marriage work, and helping other couples learn how to make theirs work as well. Through Marriage Works! they provide coaching, weekend Getaways, and resources that lead to a healthy, functional marriage. You can access Marriage Works! at MyMarriageWorks.org, facebook.com/MarriageWorks, and twitter.com/mrgwrks.
