The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites… Hosea 3:1 (NIV)
“Love her as the Lord loves…” What a statement. How is that even possible? God is love. How can you love like the King of love? How can you love like the Author of love? Wouldn’t it be easier to paint like Michelangelo or swim like Michael Phelps or dance like Fred Astaire? That seems more possible than loving like the Lord of Love loves.
Here’s a little assignment for you. Look up 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Now read it again but this time every time you see the word “love” or “it” I want you to replace it with “God.” Go ahead and try it. Did you do it? Works well doesn’t it. It makes perfect sense. God is patient with us and kind. Now let’s get crazy with the assignment. This time I want you to put your name in there. Go ahead and give it a try. How well did that work out? Did you find yourself lying? How patient are you with your spouse? How kind? Are you rude, are you self seeking, or easily angered? How’s your record of wrongs list going? Are you always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, and always persevering in this? And how often do you fail in these things? Do you love your spouse as the Lord loves? Is that even possible? I believe it is. Here’s how: The Bible tells us, “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. Do you realize what that means? That means that we are suppose to allow His love to flow through us. We are not supposed to be the source of love but the funnel of love. We are only able to love because His love has flowed through us. So draw near to God. The closer you draw to Him the closer you can draw to others.
Questions to consider:
Why does your spouse need you to love them like the Lord loves?
How are you going to love like the Lord loves? What’s your plan?
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