However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband (Ephesians 5:33).
It’s funny how quickly many couples go from infatuation to real life. When they begin dating and they happen to kick the other one under the table, they turn it into a flirting session. But fast forward to a few years into marriage and it turns into an argument: “Would you get your big feet out of the way? You’re always in my way!”
A marriage based on real love is different. You see, real love loves in the little things of life. It knows how to say “thank you” and “I’m sorry.” It puts other first even when you don’t want to. It’s gracious, unselfish, and not easily angered.
Many people get married for the same reason a tick gets on a dog – for what they can get out of it, not put into it. But if your marriage is biblical, that is, two people loving one another by the power of the Spirit in their lives, yours really can be different. You can love each other with a love that’s not based on performance, but on unselfishness and grace.
That’s how you can have a marriage that lasts… and it’s that kind of life-giving marriage God wants you to have!
Love unselfishly and graciously and your marriage will breathe life into you and your spouse!
