Love Your Spouse
ICS Daily Devotions

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Christian marriage is a covenant and is founded on all three kinds of love: Philia love, a friendship kind of love; Eros love, a romantic and sensual love, both of which are conditional; and Agape love, a self-giving and unconditional love.

We must never hurt our marriage partner, whether verbally or physically, but honour our marriage vows and love them. Love keeps no record of wrong. The Bible says that God remembers our sins no more. Therefore, bringing up the past and using it as a weapon or ammunition to attack each other is wrong. When we repeat a matter, the wound will never heal, ultimately rot and break the relationship. On the other hand, when we do not repeat a conflict, it will allow the wound and the relationship to mend.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We should never allow our spouse to go through life’s challenges alone, including sickness, childbirth, miscarriage, joblessness, lawsuits or work challenges. During these critical times, the partner should drop everything, be at their spouse’s side, and pray for them. Your covenant partner can stand in faith and pray in agreement with you daily. After God, our spouse takes top priority in our lives. Therefore, stop what you are doing to help them if your spouse needs it, just like the Good Samaritan did.

Ephesians 5:31 (Amplified) For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

Covenant partners will also look out for and protect each other. Because in-laws can sometimes be intrusive in a marriage, critical of the spouse, or challenging to live with, we must shield our spouse from possible unhealthy remarks and defend them when needed. We are to make a conscious decision to cleave to our spouse and not let our parents come between us. Couples should also clarify to their parents that family decisions are to be made solely on their own.

Covenant partners honour their commitment and stay true to their word. Love your spouse based on their love languages because love dies when the emotional reservoir is empty. Finally,

We need to be patient with each other, extend grace and pray for each other. The Christian marriage is a threefold cord with God holding us firmly together. Our love for each other will get stronger as we draw closer to God because the nature of God is love.

Sermon Series： Before You Say I Do