True Love in a Christ-Centered Marriage

Hey there! If you've ever thought that love and marriage should be as simple as sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, then join the club! But as many of us have come to realize, building and maintaining a strong, loving relationship requires more than just sweet nothings and affectionate pecks. It demands dedication, mutual respect, and a whole lot of Jesus!

In the heartwarming guidance of 1st Peter 3:1-7, we're reminded that the core of a successful Christian marriage is not just about riding the highs of emotional ecstasy but grounding our actions in the love and teachings of Christ. Love, as it turns out, isn't just a feeling; it’s a verb that requires action. This means that before the butterflies and before the happily ever afters, there must be a conscious decision to love like Jesus did—sacrificially and unconditionally.

Let's unpack this a bit. For wives, this scripture provides a quiet strength—winning over their husbands not through relentless nagging or heated arguments, but through pure, reverent lives that echo the love of Christ. It's about letting your life do the talking, allowing your actions to gently invite your spouse into the deeper waters of faith and love.

For husbands, Peter lays down the gauntlet, calling men to honor their wives with understanding and recognition of their equal partnership in God’s gift of life. This isn't about who can lift more or who earns more—it's about honoring each other as co-heirs of the gracious gift of life. It means treating your wife with the respect and dignity she deserves, ensuring that your actions at home reflect the honor and esteem you profess in public.

This passage is incredibly relevant, regardless of whether you're single, dating, or have been married for decades. It speaks to the heart of what it means to live out our faith in the most intimate human relationship we'll likely ever have. It challenges all of us to reflect on how we are embodying Christ's love in our interactions and to strive to build relationships that aren’t just about feeling good but about being good—good partners, good confidantes, and good believers.

So, whether you're working through the complexities of a challenging relationship or celebrating decades of marriage, remember: the foundation of any relationship is not the dizzying highs of emotional joy but the steady, enduring love of Jesus Christ, shown through our actions every day. Let's strive to not only speak about love but to actively live out that love in every moment with our partners. After all, in the end, the true measure of our relationships isn't found in the words we speak but in the love we show.

- Adapted from the sermon preached at our Walloon Lake campus on 4/21/24.