Love bears up under anything and everything that
comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are
fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)
God loves you so very much and He reveals that love through
the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is His will that you know and understand
and/or comprehend His love for you. However, it doesn’t just end there, God desires for
you and I to experience His love towards us every day in every way. When we
experience God’s love first hand it takes us to an entirely different level of
trust and obedience.
Now hold on, I know you are ecstatic about that but that’s
not all, God not only wants you to be a recipient of His love but an instrument
of His love as well. An instrument is a tool used for service of the one authorized to use it or whomever (s)he lends it to.
It is God’s intent that you would be an instrument of His love allowing it to manifest in you and
through you.
In this the love of
God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His
Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live
through Him. 1 John 4:9
Manifest defined:
·
Readily perceived by the senses and especially
by the sense of sight. (Merriam-Webster online)
A marriage union is a perfect environment and/or ideal
setting for love to manifest. You spouse not only needs to know and understand
you love them, they also need to experience the manifestation of that love. It’s
one thing to know something but an entirely different thing to experience what
you know.
In our scripture reading for today’s blog, 1Corinthians 13:7
speaks of love being manifest through us in that it is always ready (prepared)
to believe (active faith – faith without works is dead – James 2:18) the best
of every person. This lets us know that true love is not self-seeking but always
finds a way to promote good will and peace. Just think of how many arguments and/or
marital tensions could be averted through practicing this element of love.
Refusing to focus on your spouse’s weakness and/or imperfections is a
manifestation of the love of God through you towards them. They perceive and
recognize your restrain in a time when you could have reacted negatively to their
undesirable behavior. They see you consistently being an instrument in the
hands of love as it uses you to be a scalpel to cut away or a bandage to cover
unsightly areas in their lives.
To believe in something generally means that you are living
by faith and not being persuaded by what you see. Believing the best in your
spouse may mean that you see their weakness, uncontrolled temper, selfish
attitude etc. every day but yet you choose to believe and act on what God
thinks about them. You choose to believe and confess that they are the apple of
God’s eye when you see them doing and acting against the plans and purposes
that God has for their lives. God’s love
for your spouse is unconditional and is based upon His goodness and faithfulness
not theirs.
Sometimes in our marriage relationships we can get so caught
up and focusing on the love our spouse has neglected to give or express to us
that we forget that’s not our sole reason for being in a marriage union.
Remember God loved us when we were unlovable. He loved us before we ever
responded favorably to His love. If you think about it God loves people who
actually never loved Him back. Some people go to their graves and refuse to love
God however that never stopped Him from loving them. His thoughts toward them
are of peace and not of evil.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the
Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremiah 29:11
I challenge you today to practice giving love despite the love
you have or have not received in return. Be determined to be a vessel or instrument
ready for God to use daily. Choose to think like God and cultivate thoughts
that believe the best of your spouse and not thoughts of revenge, retaliation, suspicious, unforgiveness, pass hurts, betrayals, disappointments and failures but thoughts of peace and not evil.
Love truly believes the best.
My prayer for you and your spouse today is that you would
believe the best of them and actively participate in daily opportunities to
nurture and cultivate true love.
The Marriage Manual is an extension of Harris Ministries International, visit our websites.
www.harrisministriesint.com, www.detoxifyingthesoul.com, www.beyondyourweight.com, www.fellasofgod.com, www.nurturingnuggets.net
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