For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Paul. Rom. 5:6. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 2 of 30 Days to a Better Marriage.
Unconditional. That’s the kind of love God has for you. Your spouse. It’s the kind of love he intends to implant in your heart. Daily. See, God doesn’t love you—or anybody else—because of some value or virtue he sees. Nope. God loves you because that is who he is. The Father loves without hesitation or condition at any and all cost to himself—it’s just who he is. Jesus comes to earth, puts everything on the line for you, us—simply because that’s who he is. The Spirit works tireless to make us beautiful people who behave like God does—simply because that’s who he is. Simply, and I can’t over-emphasize this: God loves because that’s who he is. This is a critical, elemental component of a life-enhancing marriage. Let me put it straight: love is a one-way street. It chooses it’s object—and then pours itself out for their benefit. Period. It isn’t out to get, to gain, to earn. It loves, because that’s what love does. Incidentally, we’re going to talk a lot about love, and you’ll need to listen closely, because it’s not the kind of love splashed all over the movies. That’s an embarrassing, shallow, imposter. You can’t build any lasting relationship on that empty fluff. Trust me, don’t even try. The most incredible experience in all the world is to be chosen as an object of affection, admiration, compassion, patience, kindness—totally apart from anything you bring to the table. To be loved, pure and simply, just because. It’s a rare, magnificent thing down here. A God-thing. Just the way he wants you to relate to your spouse—so talk to him, ask him to birth this unconditional love in your heart.
