Tag: ChristLikeLove

November 5, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Building a Christ-Centered Marriage

Opening Verse

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” – Ephesians 5:25 (KJV)

Introduction

Marriage is a sacred bond created by God, meant to reflect His love and unity. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This isn’t a casual love; it’s a sacrificial, selfless love that builds a foundation of respect, trust, and godly communication.

Devotional Story

A man once came to his pastor, frustrated with the challenges he faced in his marriage. He didn’t feel respected, and he was at a loss for how to communicate effectively with his wife. The pastor listened, then pointed to Ephesians 5:25, reminding him that love in marriage isn’t about demanding respect or trying to “win” an argument. It’s about loving as Christ loves—patiently, kindly, and without condition.

The man thought of Jesus’ sacrificial love, how He laid down His life for the church. Jesus didn’t wait for the church to be perfect before giving His love; He loved first. Convicted, the man decided to approach his marriage differently. He began to pray for his wife daily, asking God to help him be a better husband. He made small efforts to show appreciation, to listen without interrupting, and to seek peace in their conversations. Over time, he noticed a change—not only in his wife but in himself. His sacrificial love and respect had softened her heart, and they began to communicate more openly and lovingly, building each other up in faith.

What This Means

God’s design for marriage calls husbands to a standard of love that mirrors Jesus’ love for the church. When a husband loves his wife this way, putting her needs before his own, he honors God and creates a safe space for open, honest communication. This type of love seeks to understand rather than to be understood. It lifts up instead of tearing down, and it reflects Christ’s love in a way that can transform a marriage.

Think About This

Are you showing sacrificial love in your marriage? Are you quick to listen and slow to anger, as Christ would be with His church? Consider how small acts of love and respect can nurture your marriage and draw you closer together in faith.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of marriage. Teach me to love my spouse as You love Your church, with patience, humility, and a sacrificial heart. Help me to be an example of Your love in our marriage, always seeking to communicate with respect and understanding. Guide our words and actions, that we may grow closer to You and each other. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” – Ephesians 5:28 (KJV)

October 2, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

The Unseen Warmth

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, KJV)

Introduction

Nancy, a devout believer, had lately found herself in a spiritual rut. She wondered what it truly meant to love others the way Jesus does. Then, she heard the story of Farmer John and a helpless baby horse, told by the farm workers who witnessed it. The story changed her perception of what love really means.

Devotional Story

On a bitterly cold winter morning, Farmer John discovered a baby horse stuck in a frozen pond. His farm workers and some folks who were just passing by watched as he quickly removed his warm jacket and shirt without a second thought. Shivering in the icy wind, he waded into the pond and lifted the struggling animal into his arms.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, KJV)

Witnessing this, the onlookers and farm workers couldn’t help but be moved. Nancy, hearing the account later, felt her heart swell with admiration for John’s selfless act.
As John made his way back to the shore, his body quaking from the cold, he wrapped his discarded clothing around the shivering foal. The workers hurriedly brought blankets and joined in to help warm the animal.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18, KJV)

Nancy felt like the message was loud and clear. True love wasn’t just words or good intentions; it was actions, even if those actions meant personal discomfort or risk.

Conclusion

Nancy’s spirit was lifted that day. The story was more than just heartwarming; it served as a vivid example of the depth of love Christ calls each of us to have for others. The farm workers and those who witnessed John’s act couldn’t forget what they saw; neither could Nancy. It urged her to examine her own life and how she could manifest this kind of love to others.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9, KJV)

This lesson, witnessed by ordinary folks and shared with Nancy, affirmed that true love often requires us to go beyond our comfort zones. It challenged her to be more Christ-like, to be a person who loves not just in words, but in meaningful action.

And Jesus called the people unto him, and said, “Here’s a tale that happened not so long ago.”

And He began, “True love involves sacrifice, for to love is to serve.”

“Therefore, anyone who humbles himself to help another shows the love I teach.”

“And he that does good unto even the least of these, does it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)