Love for a Lifetime
We all would love to have great relationships. We would love to have a strong marriage and a wonderful family and home life. But it just doesn't happen by chance. Years ago, I saw this demonstrated so clearly at a couple's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. It was obvious to everyone there just how much the husband loved and cherished his wife by his words and the way he looked at her. But when I asked him about it, he said to me, "You know, I love so many things about her, but there are moments when she's not so lovable. She does some things that don't make it so easy." Then he smiled and added, "But I love her anyway."
Do you see how his few sentences give a glimpse of what his commitment to having a good relationship with his wife required? It meant being committed to keeping his mouth closed in the difficult times when she wasn't so lovable. He chose to look at all the things that he loved about her rather than the things that tried to disrupt his love for her. A few negative things could not diminish the commitment of his love.
Loving relationships at any level require that we be good to people when they're not being good to us. The Scripture says, "Above all, have a fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Yes, you have to overlook offenses, unkindness, selfishness, and cutting words. You're going to have to release anger and bitterness. You're going to have to walk in integrity when another person is not walking in integrity. It takes a deep commitment. It takes restraint. But on the other side of that costly commitment of love is amazing blessing. You're going to get to enjoy relationships. You're going to get to enjoy things you would never have enjoyed otherwise.
So how are your relationships? Are you hoping to see some improvements? You may be right on the threshold of a breakthrough in a relationship, but your commitment has to involve determination, discipline, and focus. You may feel that you can't do it on your own, but you're not on your own. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." You can commit this relationship to the God who is committed to you. He is saying, "Focus on your commitment, and believe that I'm going to help you bring it to pass." Then put actions behind your commitment so that He can release His power in your life. I believe you're going to experience an amazing relationship that will last a lifetime.
Do you see how his few sentences give a glimpse of what his commitment to having a good relationship with his wife required? It meant being committed to keeping his mouth closed in the difficult times when she wasn't so lovable. He chose to look at all the things that he loved about her rather than the things that tried to disrupt his love for her. A few negative things could not diminish the commitment of his love.
Loving relationships at any level require that we be good to people when they're not being good to us. The Scripture says, "Above all, have a fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Yes, you have to overlook offenses, unkindness, selfishness, and cutting words. You're going to have to release anger and bitterness. You're going to have to walk in integrity when another person is not walking in integrity. It takes a deep commitment. It takes restraint. But on the other side of that costly commitment of love is amazing blessing. You're going to get to enjoy relationships. You're going to get to enjoy things you would never have enjoyed otherwise.
So how are your relationships? Are you hoping to see some improvements? You may be right on the threshold of a breakthrough in a relationship, but your commitment has to involve determination, discipline, and focus. You may feel that you can't do it on your own, but you're not on your own. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." You can commit this relationship to the God who is committed to you. He is saying, "Focus on your commitment, and believe that I'm going to help you bring it to pass." Then put actions behind your commitment so that He can release His power in your life. I believe you're going to experience an amazing relationship that will last a lifetime.