The Love Dare - Day 29 & 30

Love Dare (from the movie Fireproof)

Day 29 - Love's Motivation

Render service with a good attitude as to the Lord and not to men. ~Ephesians 6:7

Your mate will not always motivate your love. Many times, they will de-motivate it. More often than you'd like, it will seem difficult to find the inspiration to demonstrate your love.

The love that's demanded from you in marriage is not dependent on your mate's sweetness or suitability. The love between a husband and wife should have one chief objective: honoring the Lord with devotion and sincerity.

Only love that is lifted up as an offering to God - returned to Him in gratitude for all He's done - is able to sustain itself when all other reasons have lost their ability to energize us.

TODAY'S DARE

BEFORE YOU SEE YOUR SPOUSE AGAIN TODAY, PRAY FOR THEM BY NAME AND FOR THEIR NEEDS. WHETHER IT COMES EASY FOR YOU OR NOT, SAY "I LOVE YOU," THEN EXPRESS LOVE TO THEM IN SOME TANGIBLE WAY. GO TO GOD IN PRAYER AGAIN, THANKING HIM FOR GIVING YOU THE PRIVILEGE OF LOVING THIS ONE SPECIAL PERSON - UNCONDITIONALLY, THE WAY HE LOVES BOTH OF YOU.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ~Joshua 24:15


Day 30 - Love Brings Unity

Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. ~John 17:11

Because [God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit's] relationship is so special - so representative of the vastness and grandeur of God - He has chosen to let us experience an aspect of it. In the unique relationship of husband and wife, two distinct individuals are spiritually united into "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). In fact, the mystery is so compelling - and the love between a husband and wife so intertwined and complete - that God uses the imagery of marriage to explain His love for the church.

The church (the bride) is most honored when her Savior is worshiped and celebrated. Christ (the bridegroom), who has given Himself up for her, is most honored when He sees her "as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27). Both Christ and the church love and honor the other.

That's the beauty of unity.

What would happen if you made it your mission to do everything possible to promote togetherness of heart with your husband? What if every threat to your unity was treated as poison, a cancer, an enemy to be eliminated by love, humility and selflessness? What would your marriage become if you were never again willing to see your oneness torn apart?

TODAY'S DARE

ISOLATE ONE AREA OF DIVISION IN YOUR MARRIAGE, AND LOOK ON TODAY AS A FRESH OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY ABOUT IT. ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL ANYTHING IN YOUR OWN HEART THAT IS THREATENING ONENESS WITH YOUR SPOUSE. PRAY THAT HE WOULD DO THE SAME FOR THEM. AND IF APPROPRIATE, DISCUSS THIS MATTER OPENLY, SEEKING GOD FOR UNITY.

The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ~Deuteronomy 6:4