Staying in Love
Staying in Love: Rooting Your Marriage in Christ
In a world where "happily ever after" is often portrayed as the ultimate goal of relationships, we rarely discuss the challenging yet beautiful journey of staying in love. While falling in love is celebrated and cherished, the ongoing process of nurturing and maintaining that love is equally important, if not more so.
At its core, marriage is a relationship. This may seem obvious, but it's a crucial understanding that we often overlook. Marriage isn't a product, a thing, or merely a topic – it's a living, breathing relationship that requires care, nurture, and investment of both time and self.
The very foundation of humanity is rooted in relationship. In the creation story, we see God saying, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness." This plural form refers to the triune nature of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – a perfect relationship. We were created out of relationship for relationship. This truth is further emphasized when God states, "It is not good for the man to be alone." We were designed for connection, for companionship, for relationship.
Understanding this relational aspect of marriage is vital because it shifts our focus from treating marriage as a set of tasks or obligations to nurturing it as a living entity. While communication, setting boundaries, and other practical aspects are important, they should flow from the relationship, not define it.
For a marriage to thrive, it needs to be firmly rooted. Just as a tree with deep roots can withstand storms and harsh conditions, a marriage rooted in solid ground can weather life's challenges. But what does it mean for a marriage to be rooted?
First and foremost, marriages need to be rooted in Jesus. This isn't just a platitude; it's a transformative truth. Being rooted in Jesus means allowing Scripture to guide your marriage, not as a weapon, but as a life-giving force. It means modeling your relationship after how Jesus lived and treated others – with love, compassion, and selflessness.
When a couple is rooted in Jesus, their marriage transcends mere companionship. It becomes a means to worship and serve Christ together, providing a unified purpose. As they grow in their relationship with Jesus, they produce relational and emotional fruit, creating a sense of safety, warmth, and a deep bond not just with each other, but with their Savior.
Colossians 2:6-7 beautifully captures this idea: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." This verse should be a daily application for married couples, reminding them to continually live their lives in Christ.
The second crucial root for a strong marriage is love for each other. While this might seem obvious, our natural tendency towards self-focus can often overshadow our love for our spouse. In our pursuit of personal success, education, careers, and self-care, we can unintentionally neglect our marriages.
Many couples find themselves achieving great individual accomplishments – big houses, successful careers, advanced degrees – while their marriages feel empty, void of love, compassion, and joy. They become more like roommates than soulmates. To counter this, we must intentionally root our marriages in love for each other, not just in individual pursuits.
So how do we practically root our marriages in Jesus and in love for each other? Here are some tangible steps:
1. Cultivate individual relationships with Jesus: Each spouse should have a personal, growing relationship with Christ.
2. Talk about Jesus: Bring Him into your discussions, decisions, dreams, and ambitions. Don't reserve spiritual conversations only for difficult times.
3. Read Scripture: Individually and, if possible, together. Share what you're learning with each other.
4. Pray: Pray for each other by name. Bring your spouse's struggles and needs before God. Pray together as a couple.
John 15:4-5 provides a beautiful metaphor for this rooting: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Imagine applying this to your marriage – abiding in Jesus as a couple. When you do, you will bear fruit. You'll find yourself navigating conflicts with love and compassion. You'll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders.
It's important to note that being rooted in Christ isn't a magic solution that instantly resolves all marital issues. There will still be challenges, disagreements, and hard work required. However, when Christ is at the center, He becomes the magnetic force that continually draws you back together, providing common ground and a shared source of strength and guidance.
In the grand tapestry of marriage, with all its joys, challenges, and complexities, there is no better foundation than being rooted in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and in love for one another. As we nurture these roots, allowing them to grow deep and strong, we create marriages that not only endure but flourish – relationships that truly embody the beauty of "staying in love."
So, let us commit to bringing Jesus into our marriages daily – not just through brief devotions, but by making Him the source of our everyday life together. As we do, we'll discover His power revealed in our relationships, bringing healing, growth, and a love that continually deepens and matures. In this way, we can experience a "happily ever after" that's not just a fairy tale ending, but a daily reality rooted in the endless love of Christ.
In a world where "happily ever after" is often portrayed as the ultimate goal of relationships, we rarely discuss the challenging yet beautiful journey of staying in love. While falling in love is celebrated and cherished, the ongoing process of nurturing and maintaining that love is equally important, if not more so.
At its core, marriage is a relationship. This may seem obvious, but it's a crucial understanding that we often overlook. Marriage isn't a product, a thing, or merely a topic – it's a living, breathing relationship that requires care, nurture, and investment of both time and self.
The very foundation of humanity is rooted in relationship. In the creation story, we see God saying, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness." This plural form refers to the triune nature of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – a perfect relationship. We were created out of relationship for relationship. This truth is further emphasized when God states, "It is not good for the man to be alone." We were designed for connection, for companionship, for relationship.
Understanding this relational aspect of marriage is vital because it shifts our focus from treating marriage as a set of tasks or obligations to nurturing it as a living entity. While communication, setting boundaries, and other practical aspects are important, they should flow from the relationship, not define it.
For a marriage to thrive, it needs to be firmly rooted. Just as a tree with deep roots can withstand storms and harsh conditions, a marriage rooted in solid ground can weather life's challenges. But what does it mean for a marriage to be rooted?
First and foremost, marriages need to be rooted in Jesus. This isn't just a platitude; it's a transformative truth. Being rooted in Jesus means allowing Scripture to guide your marriage, not as a weapon, but as a life-giving force. It means modeling your relationship after how Jesus lived and treated others – with love, compassion, and selflessness.
When a couple is rooted in Jesus, their marriage transcends mere companionship. It becomes a means to worship and serve Christ together, providing a unified purpose. As they grow in their relationship with Jesus, they produce relational and emotional fruit, creating a sense of safety, warmth, and a deep bond not just with each other, but with their Savior.
Colossians 2:6-7 beautifully captures this idea: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." This verse should be a daily application for married couples, reminding them to continually live their lives in Christ.
The second crucial root for a strong marriage is love for each other. While this might seem obvious, our natural tendency towards self-focus can often overshadow our love for our spouse. In our pursuit of personal success, education, careers, and self-care, we can unintentionally neglect our marriages.
Many couples find themselves achieving great individual accomplishments – big houses, successful careers, advanced degrees – while their marriages feel empty, void of love, compassion, and joy. They become more like roommates than soulmates. To counter this, we must intentionally root our marriages in love for each other, not just in individual pursuits.
So how do we practically root our marriages in Jesus and in love for each other? Here are some tangible steps:
1. Cultivate individual relationships with Jesus: Each spouse should have a personal, growing relationship with Christ.
2. Talk about Jesus: Bring Him into your discussions, decisions, dreams, and ambitions. Don't reserve spiritual conversations only for difficult times.
3. Read Scripture: Individually and, if possible, together. Share what you're learning with each other.
4. Pray: Pray for each other by name. Bring your spouse's struggles and needs before God. Pray together as a couple.
John 15:4-5 provides a beautiful metaphor for this rooting: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Imagine applying this to your marriage – abiding in Jesus as a couple. When you do, you will bear fruit. You'll find yourself navigating conflicts with love and compassion. You'll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders.
It's important to note that being rooted in Christ isn't a magic solution that instantly resolves all marital issues. There will still be challenges, disagreements, and hard work required. However, when Christ is at the center, He becomes the magnetic force that continually draws you back together, providing common ground and a shared source of strength and guidance.
In the grand tapestry of marriage, with all its joys, challenges, and complexities, there is no better foundation than being rooted in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and in love for one another. As we nurture these roots, allowing them to grow deep and strong, we create marriages that not only endure but flourish – relationships that truly embody the beauty of "staying in love."
So, let us commit to bringing Jesus into our marriages daily – not just through brief devotions, but by making Him the source of our everyday life together. As we do, we'll discover His power revealed in our relationships, bringing healing, growth, and a love that continually deepens and matures. In this way, we can experience a "happily ever after" that's not just a fairy tale ending, but a daily reality rooted in the endless love of Christ.
Posted in Marriage
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